By DAVE SKRETTA AP Sports Writer KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Donna Kelce will have to pull out that now-familiar custom jersey — the one with Kansas City Chiefs’ Travis Kelce front stitched to Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce’s back — once again this season. At least this time she’ll see her boys in person. Kelce helped the Chiefs come back to their third championship game in four seasons Sunday night when they beat the Bengals for the AFC title, while Jason brought the Eagles back for the second time in six years after their NFC title win over the 49ers. scenario to be in, you know? Travis Kelce said. “My mother can’t lose.” Or maybe she can’t win. Indeed, there have been many famous NFL brothers over the years, and many have had memorable matchups: Peyton and Eli Manning, Tiki and Ronde Barber. But they never made it to the same Super Bowl, or had to put their dear old mom in a situation like this, where one will lift the Lombardi Trophy at the other’s expense. “It will be an incredible feeling to play against him,” she added. Travis, whose team has bested his older brother’s Eagles in their last three meetings. “I respect everyone over there in the Eagles organization. You won’t see me talking too much nonsense because of how much I love my brother. But it will certainly be an exciting match. “Jason Kelce was also a Chiefs fan for a short time Sunday night, wearing a Kansas City hoodie for about 3 hours between ending the San Francisco Eagles 31-7 loss and finishing their 23-20 victory of her little brother on Cincinnati. “That’s it for the rest of the year,” Jason said with a smile. “I’m done being a Chiefs fan.” She’s leaving it to mom and dad. While her husband, Ed, stayed mostly private over the years, Donna has been a regular fixture as she traveled across the country to watch her boys.During wild card weekend last year, she started out in Tampa Bay watching the Eagles vs. the Buccaneers, then she got on a plane to Kansas City in time to watch the Chiefs play the Steelers at night. She’s already seen both of her sons win Super Bowls, too: The Eagles beat the Patriots in 2018 in Minneapolis, and the Chiefs rallied to beat the 49ers in Miami two years after. Lately though, she hasn’t seen them much. The way the playoff schedule worked out for the divisional round and conference championship games, it was impossible for Donna to get to see either of her boys in person. In any case, they’ve come a long way from their solid middle-class education in Cleveland Heights, Ohio. Jason led the way as the all-star offensive lineman who earned a scholarship to Cincinnati, and Travis soon followed suit. Both caught the attention of NFL scouts during their college careers, and one coach in particular: Andy Reid. It was Big Red who, while coaching the Eagles, used a sixth-round pick on Jason during the 2011 draft. And two years later, after Reid made a fresh start in Kansas City, the Chiefs used a third-round pick to bring Travis at the fold. “The older brother probably protected Travis from doing crazy things. She probably got him to drop a ladder in raked leaves once or twice,” Reid said on Monday. “Look, deep down they’re both very competitive and compassionate, which is the most important thing. they care about their game.” He also happens to be very good at it. Jason has made six Pro Bowls and was just voted All-Pro for the fifth time, and has emerged as one of the best offensive linemen in Eagles history. Travis has been to eight Pro Bowls, just made a fourth All-Pro team, and is second in NFL history to Jerry Rice in catches, yards and touchdowns in the playoffs. Not even football is the only thing they are good at. The brothers have news a podcast called “New Heights with Jason & Travis Kelce,” which leads listeners into an uproar. real-time rush through the NFL season. The weekly shows are taped on Tuesdays and run between 60 and 90 minutes, the two NFL stars playfully playing against each other like they’re hanging out in mom’s basement. Special guests have included Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts and Chiefs counterpart Patrick Mahomes. have a good network there and a good rapport,” Reid said. “I think Travis has grown a lot. Jason probably came in a little more mature – Travis was a little immature. invested time in both,” Reid added, “so I feel like part of the family.” ___AP NFL:e
