Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce is on top of the world right now.
Fresh off winning his second-straight Super Bowl, Kelce is partying across the country (and world) and enjoying his ramped-up celebrity status thanks to his famous girlfriend.
He may very well go down as the greatest tight end in NFL history. Some even think he already is.
To think that there were several teams that didn’t give him the time of day when he about to enter the league…
Travis Kelce first half highlights: pic.twitter.com/9Y3uM9TXy1
— Playmaker TD 🏈 (@playmakerTD) February 12, 2024
One of those teams is none other than the Dallas Cowboys.
Kelce recalled meeting with Dallas ahead of the 2013 NFL Draft. Coming off a productive yet controversial college career at Cincinnati, the Cowboys were a little concerned about Kelce’s character.
“At the combine, I had some bad interviews,” Kelce said on his New Heights podcast. “The Cowboys, they were kind of pressing me about having this red flag of missing a year.”
Travis Kelce details his Draft Combine interview with the Dallas Cowboys ahead of the 2013 NFL Draft & the “red flags” the Cowboys had about him…
What Kelce told them they should do is hilarious…this is wild! #DallasCowboys
(🎥: @newheightshow) pic.twitter.com/RoegzXJ3oQ
— Kevin Gray Jr. (@KevinGraySports) March 2, 2024
This missing year Kelce refers to stems from his suspension during the 2010 season while playing for the Bearcats.
His positive test for marijuana led to a violation of team rules, resulting in his absence from the field.
However, Kelce rebounded in 2011 and delivered a stellar 2012 season that garnered attention from NFL scouts.
Here’s a little Cincinnati Bearcats Travis Kelce action for you. 🍿 pic.twitter.com/dQAJiKKOBA
— College Football Alerts (@CFBAlerts_) July 6, 2023
Despite his efforts to redeem himself, Kelce revealed that the Cowboys remained skeptical, raising concerns that didn’t sit well with him.
“It ended really fast,” Kelce recalled of his encounter with Dallas at the combine. “I basically just said, ‘If you guys think I’m gonna be that kind of guy, or you’re questioning if I’m still that person after everything that I’ve battled through to get to where I am now from missing a season, then you guys (should) probably go somewhere else and pick somebody else.’ … And that’s exactly what they did!”
As a Cowboys fan I believe it lol fitting really
— Jordan Myers (@JordanM1284) March 7, 2024
The Cowboys ended up passing on Kelce in favor of tight end Gavin Escobar, who they drafted with the 47th overall pick instead.
Kelce would end up being selected by the Chiefs with the 63rd pick in the third round – and the rest is history.
Travis Kelce’s Super Bowl LVIII highlights 🔥#ChiefsKingdom #TK87 #SuperBowlLVIII pic.twitter.com/EPB73YGyu4
— Vicki (@KCMo96_) February 19, 2024
In his 11-year career, Kelce has hauled in 907 receptions for 11,328 yards and 74 touchdowns.
He’s won three Super Bowls and has been elected to the Pro-Bowl nine times, including seven nods to the All-Pro team.
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelcepic.twitter.com/Kgi3WCQzBB
— Funny Clown (@FunnyClown_2000) February 28, 2024
What are your thoughts on the Cowboys decision to pass on Kelce?
In fairness, he did have some major red flags coming out of college. You can’t necessarily kill Dallas for passing on him. After all, there is a reason why he dropped to the third round.
Having said that, it’s interesting to think how things might have been different if Kelce was drafted by the Cowboys, or any other team than the Chiefs.
Would Kansas City have won three Super Bowls without him? … Of course not. As great as Patrick Mahomes is, you can make a strong case the Chiefs wouldn’t have won a single Super Bowl without Kelce.
Is he the greatest tight end in NFL history???
Travis Kelcepic.twitter.com/xwTZsB4yEY
— Funny Clown (@FunnyClown_2000) March 2, 2024