On Feb. 12, two brothers will face one another as gamers for the primary time in Tremendous Bowl historical past. Philadelphia Eagles All-Professional middle Jason Kelce, 35, and his youthful brother Travis, 33, the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs All-Professional tight finish, grew up in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, and performed collectively for a season on the College of Cincinnati. The Eagles, coached on the time by Andy Reid, chosen Jason within the sixth spherical, 191th total, of the 2011 draft. The Chiefs, coached then and now by Reid, took Travis within the third spherical, 63rd total, within the 2013 NFL Draft.
They’ve every received a Tremendous Bowl, Jason in 2018, when the Eagles upset the New England Patriots, and Travis two years later, when the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs got here again late to beat San Francisco. The Kelces each have robust possibilities to make the Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame. No pair of siblings have ever been elected as gamers.
So throughout Tremendous Bowl week their mother Donna Kelce, a retired financial institution govt now dwelling in Orlando, has been a well-liked presence round Phoenix, the host metropolis. On Monday’s Tremendous Bowl opening night time, she delivered cookies to her youngsters, sporting a jersey that’s pink within the entrance (Travis) and inexperienced within the again (Jason). Greater than 180,000 followers signed a petition for her to do the Tremendous Bowl coin toss.
TIME spoke to Donna by the cellphone earlier this week, whereas she was in an Uber en path to document an episode of the favored podcast hosted by her sons, “New Heights.” We knew she was unlikely to make any predictions concerning the sport — although we requested — so we grilled her as a substitute on the query that’s on everybody’s thoughts: Which child was an even bigger ache to cope with?
Simply kidding. Donna was more than pleased to gush about her sons, however she positively didn’t attempt to paint them as excellent. Jason, leaping right into a trash can on a dare was simply dumb. And each of you: name your mom, will you?
So who’s funnier: Jason or Travis?
Toss-up. They’re in all probability 50/50. They’re each hysterical. I feel Jason has a faster wit. However Travis is fairly humorous, too. I can’t decide there.
Who’s extra more likely to cry at a film?
Oh, it depends upon the film, however I’d say in all probability Travis. However Jason additionally. They’re each very emotional, particularly with sports activities and the whole lot else. They’re very comparable in a number of alternative ways. You simply hit on two.
All proper, who was messier rising up?
I’m fairly positive it’s Jason. There can be meals plates beneath the mattress. He by no means introduced something downstairs. Like a pack rat.
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Who was the larger eater?
Jason positively was the larger eater. He was much less choosy and so he ate the whole lot. Plus, he was a linebacker and a lineman. So he wanted to place the kilos on. He liked ribs.
Who received extra brawls?
Jason, as a result of he was at all times greater, two years older, smarter. Extra expertise. So yeah, positively Jason would win a number of the fights till they received to highschool. Then certainly one of them [Travis] took off and received bigger. As soon as they have been the identical peak and weight, in highschool — it was Jason’s senior yr, Travis sophomore yr — that’s the yr that they have been fairly equal.
Who received in additional hassle at school?
That’s a toss-up too. It was by no means dangerous issues. Like one time Jason did a dare. It was for hockey. Principally what occurred was, he jumped from a lunch-room desk right into a trash can with a snorkel on, rip-away pants and swimming trunks on. So it was stuff like that. It was at all times disruptive. It was foolish stuff that I received requires. It was by no means for preventing or being imply or stealing or something like that.
A substitute instructor was in school. The category was type of unruly. Travis took a wad of paper and threw it at one other child. So, I received a name for that.
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Who calls his mom extra?
Oh, that’s a very good query. The NFL actually doesn’t do properly with that. They are going to reply my texts. However each of them are extraordinarily busy. Jason, at residence, he’s received two youngsters. Travis is continually doing commercials and issues like that. I’d say that that’s a toss-up between the 2 of them. However possibly Travis is a bit of higher at speaking and getting again to me.
I hope Jason reads this and will get a bit of higher.
I don’t assume that’s going to occur.
I feel Travis had an $1,100 textual content invoice when he was in highschool, earlier than they gave limitless. He was at all times on the cellphone. He’s a real communicator.
Who give higher items?
I’ve gotten great items from each of them. Journeys and jewellery and, you recognize, grandchildren. I’d say even in that one.
Who’s extra cussed?
Positively Jason. He’ll decide the opposite aspect of an argument simply to argue. He simply retains at you want a drill sergeant. Attempting to ask you to decide. Like, only in the near past, “Who’re you going to select to win within the Tremendous Bowl?” He simply received’t let it go.
Who was extra more likely to stroll the household canine, Belle [named after former Cleveland Guardians star Albert Belle]?
Neither one. It was mother taking good care of the cat and the canine. However they’d go within the yard and play with the canine, that’s for positive.
Who’s extra of a do-gooder, extra more likely to save the world than the opposite?
Travis has a bit of bit extra, I don’t know what the proper phrase is … he’s only a kinder human being. That’s simply in his nature. Jason typically is a bit of cynical.
Children usually have their dream occupations after they’re rising up. To be an astronaut, that type of factor. Do you bear in mind, for every of them, the very first thing they needed to be after they grew up?
Travis was positively Charles Barkley. He had that dream, when he was very younger, to be an NBA participant. I don’t know why, however that’s what he selected. Jason needed to be a superhero. He wore a number of Batman outfits.
All proper … Who’s extra more likely to win the sport Sunday?
Oh, jeez. I simply don’t know. In the event that they have been taking part in one other staff, I’d say every of them have been. It’s the staff that makes the least quantity of errors. You simply have to attend on that one.
You didn’t fall for that one. I don’t blame you.
It’s powerful.
As we get nearer to the sport, does it make it much less aggravating figuring out that every of them has already received a Tremendous Bowl?
Yeah, it’s lots higher. This one will likely be pure pleasure, figuring out they made it and that certainly one of their desires got here true. Now the unique one was that they’d play with one another, on the identical staff, and it will be the Browns. That’s what they at all times talked about. However that didn’t occur and it turned out properly for each of them. They each received drafted by Andy Reid although.
That Browns dream … it’s not too late. Do you assume it has any likelihood to return true?
OK, Jason won’t ever go away Philadelphia. In the event that they inform him “you’re achieved,” that’s it. Travis, he won’t ever go away Patrick [Mahomes]. Or Andy for that matter. So it’s not going to occur. They’re going to remain the place they’re.
OK, are there any lighting-round questions I ought to have requested? Or any very last thing you’d need to level out?
Travis appears to have at all times adopted in Jason’s footsteps. You understand, Jason received into the NFL, then Travis did. Jason received the [Ed Block Courage Award], and Travis did. Jason received the Tremendous Bowl. And Travis did. So it simply looks like he’s following his older brother’s footsteps right through.
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