Travis Kelce reveals horrible encounter with the Browns to draft him in 2013, and friend Machine Gun Kelly makes him an intriguing offer to join hometown team
That’s the lyric change pop star Taylor Swift would have made at one of her recent record-breaking Eras Tour shows, if her boyfriend Travis Kelce had his way back in 2013.
In Wednesday’s episode of Kelce’s New Heights podcast that the Chiefs tight end shares with brother and Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce, the two Cleveland Heights natives took a call from another Northeast Ohioan — pop-punk superstar, rapper and entrepreneur Machine Gun Kelly.
The Shaker Heights High School alum made an interesting offer to Travis, and later extended it to both brothers.
“I would be remiss due to the nature of our friendship and just as a Clevelander if I did not insert this question personally,” MGK said. “I will give you $500,000 cash upon arrival just for shopping or whatever you want, as well as matching that same amount as a donation to both of our high schools, both Shaker Heights and Cleveland Heights, as well as every-day breakfast and coffee delivery from my restaurant (27 Club Coffee) … if you would just come home and put on these colors (brown and orange) right here.”
The two future Hall of Fame brothers were certainly amused by the offer — Travis especially.
For the younger of the two Kelce brothers (Jason was in the Cleveland Heights class of 2006, while Travis was in the class of 2008) it also brought back a key memory from his draft year in 2013.
“That was the original dream though,” Travis said. “You already know when they brought the team back — I remember, I think I cried in coach (Rob) Chudzinski’s face when I was getting drafted to please let me f—— play for Cleveland. It was one of my dreams to play for the Browns.”
After MGK hung up, Travis went into more detail about the 2013 meeting with the former Browns coach, which he said occurred during his pre-draft visit.
In fact, Travis jokingly hypothesized that perhaps his outward display of emotion was part of what scared the Browns off from drafting him.
“Him and coach (Jon) Embree, tight end coach down in Miami right now, I was crying in front of both of them,” Travis said. “Which is probably why they didn’t draft me, like this dude is way soft. He’s a mess right now.”
Chudzinski was gone after only that one season, in which the Browns went 4-12.
Travis of course went on to be drafted in the third-round by the Kansas City Chiefs that year, and has gone on to become one of the best pass-catching tight ends in league history. He’s played all 11 seasons in Kansas City, has two Super Bowl rings, is a four-time All-Pro and eight-time Pro Bowler. For context, the Browns took LB Barkevious Mingo with their first round pick that year, and cornerback Leon McFadden with their third rounder. Mingo spent three years in Cleveland, and was a journeyman after that, playing for six teams during his eight-year career. McFadden was only in Cleveland that one year, and the NFL for four total seasons.
Both Kelce brothers have spent their entire careers with one team. Jason was drafted by the Eagles in the sixth round in 2011 (yes, both brothers drafted by Andy Reid) and is currently in his 13th year in Philly. He was a part of the Eagles’ 2017 Super Bowl squad, is a six-time Pro Bowler and five-time All-Pro.
The brothers made history last season becoming the first siblings to play against one another in the Super Bowl, with Travis and the Chiefs getting the 38-35 edge.
Before MGK hung up, he extended the offer to both brothers to return to their hometown and play for the Browns, with the caveat that they would have to split the $500,000.
“There is no decision that needs to be made right now, but just know my offer is real and it’s on the table,” MGK said. “I’ll make beats in the locker room every day. I’ll put a studio in the closet if that’s what needs to happen to make Travis come home.”
Jason came up with a counter offer, and certainly understands the allure as a hometown kid.
“500K for Travis, as long as I get the free coffee,” he said. “You’re playing all the video games, you’re playing franchise mode and everything with the Browns and trying to get it done. That was a dream growing up for sure. But it worked out.”
This year, the brothers are not just known for their production on the field and their podcast, which according to this week’s episode is one of Apple’s top podcasts of the year — but for Travis’ romantic connection with Swift.
New Heights’ regular listeners got to hear their relationship blossom in real time, when this summer Travis lamented not being able to give the superstar his phone number via a friendship bracelet at her July Eras Tour show in Kansas City.
The two still managed to connect, however, and are arguably the most high-profile celebrity couple of the moment. Swift has become a regular guest at Chiefs games when on break from tour, and Travis has been spotted at numerous tour shows, including during the Chiefs’ Week 10 bye when he traveled down to Buenos Aires, Argentina.
It was at that show that Swift changed the lyrics to her hit song “Karma,” singing, “Karma is the guy on the Chiefs, coming straight home to me,” changing the word originally written as “screen” to “Chiefs.”
For the time being though, don’t get too excited, Browns fans. It doesn’t sound like Swift will need to pay homage to the Dawg Pound via lyric changes any time soon.
“Chiefs Kingdom, you know I love Chiefs Kingdom, baby,” Travis continued on Wednesday’s podcast. “I don’t think I’ll ever play anywhere else, but Cleveland was always the dream growing up. That’s for damn sure. Being a sports fan in Cleveland, you can’t not dream about playing for all three of the Cleveland sports teams, let alone the Browns, man.”
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