Travis Kelce may be the star dazzling fans with his incredible football performances, but his parents, Donna and Ed Kelce have captured just as much public admiration.
This article delves into Donna and Ed Kelce’s lives — how they first crossed paths, the reasons behind their separation, and the unforgettable moments that have defined them.
HighlightsDonna Kelce, aka ‘America’s Mom’, supports NFL sons, Jason and Travis.Ed Kelce, ‘Proud Patriarch’, prefers privacy, coached sons in youth sports.Despite divorce, Donna and Ed remain friends; they tagged-team parenting.Donna and Ed’s goal was raising kind sons, stressing self-belief and respect.
Discover their insights into the challenges and triumphs of raising two athletic superstars and glimpse where their adventures have led them today.
Table of ContentsDonna Kelce: The NFL Mom Who Stole the SpotlightEd Kelce: The Proud and Private PatriarchAre Travis Kelce’s Parents Still Together?Parenting Two NFL Stars: Donna and Ed’s ApproachOpinion of Dr. Sarah Meehan O’CallghanBeyond the Field: Kelce Family DynamicsDonna Kelce’s Memorable Public AppearancesEd Kelce’s Role in Travis and Jason’s SuccessWhere Are They Now? Updates on Donna and Ed KelceFAQHow did Ed and Donna Kelce meet?Who is Travis Kelce dating?
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Donna Kelce: The NFL Mom Who Stole the Spotlight
Donna Kelce, affectionately known as Mama Kelce or “America’s Mom,” has steadfastly supported her two sons, NFL players Jason and Travis Kelce.
Jason Kelce plays Center for the Philadelphia Eagles, while Travis Kelce serves as a Tight End for the Kansas City Chiefs.
She has become familiar with her sons’ games, even attending two playoff games daily and covering over 1,200 miles in the process!
Jason Kelce &@tkelce‘s mom Donna is on the ultimate mission today: 2 playoff games in 1 day.
First up, Tampa Bay to see Jason and the@Eagles!@dkelce1pic.twitter.com/qMVR0mSh7n
— NFL (@NFL)January 16, 2022
In 2023, retiree Donna became the first mother to have two sons competing against each other in the Super Bowl, dubbed the “Kelce Bowl.”
Before her role as Travis and Jason’s number-one cheerleader, Donna had a well-established finance career. According to herLinkedIn, she has worked for several banks, including Bank One (now Chase), Truist, and Key Bank, for over 30 years. She specialized in underwriting funds and affordable housing projects.
In an interview withGlamour, where Donna was named one of 2024’s Women of the Year, she said she worked “really, really hard” during her career and referred to herself as the “breadwinner in the family.”
Image credits:Dimitrios Kambouris / Getty Images
Ed Kelce: The Proud and Private Patriarch
Jason and Travis’ father, Ed Kelce, is better known as Papa Kelce. Despite his regular attendance at his sons’ games, the retiree prefers less limelight and more privacy than Donna.
Like Donna, Ed has attended as many of his two boys’ games as possible. Typically, one parent attends each game. He once told theLA Timesthat the two would “divide and conquer.”
Image credits:@papakelce
Ed grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, with most of his family serving in the military during World War Two.
Ed next tried to enlist in the Army. Like the Marines, he was rejected based on his knees. Ed described being “a little p***d off” about it but ultimately said the Army had a “legitimate point” behind their refusal.
After warning that the Navy would also have a problem with Ed’s knee, the Army recruiter suggested Ed try the Coast Guard. Ed successfully enlisted in the Coastguard but was quickly discharged due to Crohn’s Disease, which prevented him from serving.
After failing to serve his country due to his health conditions, Ed began his work in the steel industry as a sales rep. He remained in this role for most of Travis and Jason’s lives.
Ed also coached his boys in various sports, including T-ball and baseball, when they were young. His one rule as a youth baseball coach was that every child played equally andwas exposedto different positions.
Are Travis Kelce’s Parents Still Together?
No, Ed and Donna Kelce divorced over 10 years ago. They were married for over 25 years.
On Travis and Jason’s New Heights podcast, Jason jokingly asked why Donna hated Ed; she replied, “I don’t hate him! We’re friends to this day.”
She explained that their split was due to the couple growing apart. Donna has no regrets about the marriage because she wouldn’t have her two sons without it.
Image credits:@donnakelce
Donna explained that she and Ed were “like a tag team” when raising their two boys. This allowed the brothers to pursue whichever sports they wanted and allowed them to compete at different tournaments and events.
In the 2023 Amazon Prime documentaryKelce, Ed suggested that the couple would have split sooner, but that would have been “a nightmare with logistics.”
Image credits:aboutamazon.com
Parenting Two NFL Stars: Donna and Ed’s Approach
Growing up, the boys had a typical sibling rivalry. Donna told Today that the two boys would make a competition out of everything, including who could get to the dinner table first or who would get the front seat in the car.
On the New Heights podcast, when asked what advice she would give to parents of aspiring NFL athletes, Donna shared that parents should always tell their children to believe in themselves no matter what.
Travis added that he and Jason are grateful to their parents for the role they played. Their parents’ support partially led to Jason and Travis’ professional successes.
Opinion ofDr. Sarah Meehan O’Callghan
As parents of two elite athletes, Donna and Ed Kelce have experienced both the joys and challenges of raising sons—Jason and Travis Kelce—who have excelled in the same sport. Their parenting approach, which emphasized play and enjoyment over pressure, appears to have nurtured their sons’ love for the game and competitive spirit. According to neuropsychoanalyst Mark Solms, play is an innate human drive, serving a deeper function beyond mere enjoyment. It shapes social positioning and reinforces the hierarchies that structure society. Competition, then, is not just a feature of sports but an inherent aspect of everyday life. –Dr. Sarah Meehan O’Callghan
Later in the podcast, Ed offered his advice to the parents of aspiring NFL athletes. Ed recommended refocusing a younger child’s passion on sports rather than just the NFL.
Ed suggested the first thing to do would be to “put them on ice.” He believes hockey is “the main way” to “understand team sports and develop conditioning and team playing.”
Papa Kelce also offered nutritional advice on what to feed kids to ensure “healthy young bodies.” He said every meal should include protein, a carb, and fruits and vegetables. Hilariously, Travis jumped in, stating that he “never ate a single vegetable” growing up.
While both parents significantly contributed to their sons’ careers, Donna quickly reminds fans that they aren’t solely responsible. She toldUs Weeklythat coaches, teachers, and family members also played a massive role in their development.
“It was a menagerie of all those individuals with all those great qualities that rubbed off on them.”
Donna also revealed that she and Ed’s ultimate goal when raising their two boys was to ensure they were kind. She told her sons, “Treat everybody with respect like you would want to be treated.”
Beyond the Field: Kelce Family Dynamics
Outside of attending nearly every football game, Donna and Ed have also embraced the role of grandparents since 2019.
Jason and his wife, Kylie, have three daughters. They are expecting a fourth girl later this year. Travis has no children but enjoys being the fun uncle to his nieces.
Image credits:@kykelce
Donna revealed toPeoplethat she’s excited to add another girl to the family. Having raised two boys, “it’s a really kind of a sweet thing” to have little girls now.
Ed loved being a grandfather so much that he moved from Cleveland to Philadelphia in 2020 to be closer to Jason and Kylie and their nine-acre farm. Ed lives only a mile away and helps Jason’s expanding family tend to their fruits and vegetables, donating the excess to disadvantaged families.
The Kelce family is one of football’s most famous families, but they still have their favorite traditions during the holidays and special events.
Donna Kelce revealed toPeoplethat one of the “most fun” things she does at Christmas is head to Pennsylvania to pick out a Christmas tree. However, she said decorating the tree with the whole family can be tricky with little ones.
Another adorable family tradition? Mama Kelce’s cookies!
At the 2023 Superbowl, Donna brought homemade cookies for her boys. She delivered the sweet treat before the game.
Image credits:Christian Petersen / Getty Images
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DonnaKelce’sMemorable Public Appearances
Donna has been a mainstay at her boys’ games for their careers. However, during the 2023 Superbowl, where her two sons faced off against each other, the media began to pay increased attention to her.
Donna wore her now-famous split jersey to ensure she didn’t show favoritism during the game. The jersey featured Travis’ number and team jersey on the front and Jason’s number and team jersey on the back.
In 2023, Donna revealed toGQthat it was Travis’ idea because he “knew there was no way” she could wear just one team’s jersey. She even had custom shoes to go with the custom split jersey!
Fortunately, Donna no longer has to worry about which of her sons’ teams to support. Jason announced his retirement in March 2024.
Since the 2023 Superbowl, Mama Kelce has had numerous guest appearances on television shows and podcasts, like The Martha Stewart Podcast and Today. Her sons have jokingly suggested she should be a co-host on Today because she has often appeared.
Image credits:@todayshow
Donna has embraced the media attention. She toldPeoplethat she has enjoyed some of the “perks” that have come with her sons’ “notoriety,” like “the experiences” and “the places” she’s visited. She’s also loved meeting so many new people.
EdKelce’sRole in Travis and Jason’s Success
While Donna grabbed the bulk of the media’s attention, Ed has quietly been a feature at both of his sons’ games.
During Superbowl 2023, Donna and Edwere invitedto sit in the NFL Commissioner’s luxury box. Donna accepted while Ed chose to sit in the stands with the family, saying, “I’m a blue-collar grunt.”
From Super Bowl Live on@nflnetworkwith America’s Mom and Dad this week, Donna and Ed Kelce, who will be watching#Chiefs–#Eaglesfrom separate locations. “Blue-collar grunt” Ed will be in the stands, while Donna cheers for offense in NFL commissioner Roger Goodell’s box.pic.twitter.com/fECjJaGRGy
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo)February 9, 2023
Ed’s plans after the “Kelce Bowl” were to console the loser. During his New Heights interview, he told his boys that “somebody’s gonna feel pretty crummy” and that he wanted to be with that person first.
Where Are They Now? Updates on Donna and Ed Kelce
Travis and Jason Kelce’s parents havebothbeen very busy with their newfound fame.
Donna has collaborated with several brands, including Pillsbury, QVC, GSK, Ancestry, and Barefoot Wines.
Mama Kelce has also entered the entertainment world. In May 2024, she narrated a football-themed story called “The Rules of Football” on the Calm app
In late 2024, Donna made cameos in not one but two Hallmark movies. She first appeared in Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story wearing Travis’ jersey.Mama Kelce then appearedinChristmasonCallwearing Jason’s jersey.
Ed, too, has been busy. In 2024, he released a five-episode podcast called Stories with Papa. As host, Ed tackled a “wide range of topics from life in and around the NFL, health and wellness, and sports media.”
FAQ
How did Ed and Donna Kelce meet?
During her appearanceinNew Heights, Donna sharedthe story ofhow she met the boys’ father. According to Donna, Ed approached her at a local Cleveland bar called Fagan’s.
Mama Kelce said she was “meant to go out with a guy that night” and that they were “supposed to go to a play,” but she never made it. Travis and Jason showed shock at their mother standing uptheother guy.
For his part, Ed didn’t quite remember as many details as Donna, but he remembered that he went to the bar after work and was still wearing coveralls. Their dad also revealed that Donna gave him a ride home that night because he didn’t have his car.
Who is Travis Kelce dating?
In case you missed it, Travis Kelce has been dating worldwide pop star Taylor Swift since September 2023. He was previously in arelationship with Kayla Nicole.
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