Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Travis Kelce explains how college suspension paved way for NFL career

By Michael Gallagher | Last updated 7/11/23

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce is having a Hall of Fame career, but if not for a wake-up call during his sophomore season at the University of Cincinnati, he may not have even made it to the NFL.

During a recent appearance on the “Bussin’ with the Boys” podcast, Kelce admitted that while in New Orleans for the 2010 Sugar Bowl, a little too much partying led to a failed drug test and subsequent suspension from the Bearcats.

"I got kicked out of college because of it," Kelce said. "I partied a little too much down there, got hit with a drug test and from that point on, I realized I’ve got to tighten the [expletive] up.”

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Once Kelce’s suspension was lifted, he rejoined the team as a walk-on because he had lost his scholarship.

Originally a two-star quarterback recruit out of high school, Kelce was forced to switch positions during the 2011 season. Cincinnati had had three capable quarterbacks on its roster—Zach Collaros, Munchie Legaux and Jordan Luallen—and there wasn’t a spot for Kelce in the QB room.

"What it did was it really kicked me into the tight end room,” Kelce added. “I was still playing QB then. It was like, 'Alright, you can come walk on the team, but we don't need a quarterback. You can just be an athlete on scout team for a year, we'll figure it out.’”

Kelce caught 13 passes for 150 yards and two touchdowns in 11 games in his first season at his new position but really came into his own during his senior year. He finished the 2012 season with 43 receptions, 772 yards and eight touchdowns and set a school record for single-season receiving yards by a tight end. He was drafted by the Chiefs in the third round of the 2013 draft.

Eight Pro Bowls, seven All-Pro selections and two Super Bowl championships later, it appears Kelce made the right decision.

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