Travis Kelce reveals how the Bengals’ decision to snub him in 2013 draft still fires him up as Chiefs prepare to renew rivalry: ‘They completely just said “F*** you, Travis”‘
- The Kansas City Chiefs selected Travis Kelce in the third round of the 2013 draft
- The Cincinnati Bengals selected fellow tight end Tyler Eifert earlier in the draft
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Travis Kelce has revealed that the Cincinnati Bengals' decision to overlook him in the 2013 draft still sets him on fire when the two teams face off.
“They definitely just said, 'F*** you, Travis,'” he said this week, 10 years after Cincinnati selected Tyler Eifert in the first round.
The 34-year-old had spent the last four years in the Bengals' “backyard” at the University of Cincinnati. The Kansas City Chiefs ultimately selected Kelce in the third round of the 2013 draft.
The Bengals visit Arrowhead on Sunday in the final chapter of a rivalry that has been on fire in recent seasons.
The two teams have met in the AFC Championship game the past two seasons, and Kelce said this week, “I think we turned it into a rivalry when we finally beat them last year.”
The Kansas City Chiefs and Cincinnati Bengals renew their rivalry on New Year's Eve
Kelce has opened up about the Bengals' decision to overlook him in the 2013 NFL draft
But when I talked to brother Jason about them New heights podcast, Kelce told us why this game has meant something to him for ten years.
“I'm looking forward to playing against them just because they're the Cincinnati Bengals. “I went to the University of Cincinnati and they picked me hard in the draft,” he said.
“I always – not necessarily blamed them – but they definitely just said, 'F*** you, Travis' when they drafted the other tight end. You can't tell me they didn't. I was sitting right there in their backyard.”
The Chiefs' struggles against the Bengals – especially in 2022 – have fueled the Kelce-Co rivalry.
“Losing to them three times in one full 365-day year doesn't sit well with me either, especially if one of them is in the AFC championship game,” he continued.
The 34-year-old spent four years in the Bengals' “backyard” at the University of Cincinnati
“They just said, 'F*** you, Travis' when they drafted the other tight end,” Kelce said
'I'm looking forward to playing against them, I respect all those players and coaches they have. When we go up against them, we know very well what they are doing.
“I know it's going to be another big challenge for our offense and our team… luckily it's a home game.”
The reigning Super Bowl champions have lost their last two games on home soil: to the Bills and the Raiders.
“This time we have to get a win at home because Chiefs Kingdom deserves it,” he added.
“What better way to end this year on a high than against a team we know?” Kelce added, “Just talking about it now and I'm excited to go back to the office tomorrow.”