How ‘party guy’ Travis Kelce recovered from rocky Kansas City Chiefs start to make Andy Reid a better coach

Andy Reid and Travis Kelce are both heading for the Hall of Fame.

The Kansas City Chiefs duo are working together for the 12th season – a relationship that has brought three Super Bowls.

Drafting one of the greatest tight ends of all time with the 63rd overall pick would be a no-brainer with the benefit of hindsight.

But despite his undeniable talent, character concerns saw Kelce drop into the third round in 2013 – behind Vance McDonald and Gavin Escobar.

It took a call to Travis’ brother Jason, who Reid worked with at the Philadelphia Eagles, to convince him to pull the trigger.

“We had a great relationship in Philadelphia even though it was only for two years,” said Jason.

“He knew me and trusted me as a player. My brother’s film from college I think spoke for itself. I think they knew the type of player they were getting.

“Because of the inside scoop I guess with me, they were able to kind of get over some of the concerns with him.”

Kelce called Reid “Big fella” the first time he met him at the University of Cincinnati.

“He was being Travis, being cocky,” Reid told ESPN. “Jiminy, he was cocky.”

That meeting set the tone for a relationship which has had a lasting impact on both men.

“For Travis, Coach Reid has almost been like that uncle you have that you listen to and get advice from,” quarterback Patrick Mahomes said.

“He makes Travis a great football player but I think even a better person.

“He has a good feel for getting on Travis when he needs that motivation, but at the same time he lets Travis be who he is.”

Per ESPN, Chiefs tight ends coach Tom Melvin used to wait in the parking lot to rush Kelce into meetings when he was late early in his career.

The superstar admitted he struggled with the professionalism of the NFL at first.

“One of the hardest things for me was to juggle enjoying my life off the field and still being a professional and ready and at the top of my game week in and week out,” Kelce said.

“Now, football is the only place in my life where I’m really detailed, really professional. When I’m thinking about football, I’m dialed in. I can lock in, really compartmentalize. That’s because of Coach Reid.”

Kelce missed his rookie season after having microfracture surgery on his knee.

He showed steady progress with his catches and yards increasing the next three seasons but had a reputation for giving up costly penalties.

Kelce has been penalized six times for unsportsmanlike conduct and once for taunting in his career – five of those came before 2017.

“When Travis came to us, he was a little bit of a party guy,” Chiefs general manager Brett Veach told ESPN. “Andy showed a lot of patience and tolerance.

“Travis wanted attention. He wanted a lot of things. He did things differently than everyone else. Coming here, having to do things a certain way and really organizing and prioritizing his life was a challenge.

“There were a lot of one-on-one meetings with Coach and a lot of, ‘This is how I want things done.’ There were a ton of bumps early on, but Coach’s love and faith for Travis never wavered. He got him through a rough time early on.”

Kelce’s discipline has improved and he will be in the conversation for greatest tight end of all time when he hangs up his cleats.

But the personality that made him stand out as a rookie is still there, as well as the fierce competitive spirit that boiled over in this year’s Super Bowl triumph.

His relationship with Taylor Swift, acting career, and $100million New Heights Podcast with brother Jason have thrust him into the spotlight.

Even mom Donna is becoming a celebrity.

As well as learning from Reid, Kelce has had an impact on his mentor.

“Travis is a guy that shows his personality very well,” said former Chiefs linebacker Derrick Johnson.

“He’s very charismatic, a fun guy. That’s a little different from Andy. You always know what you’re getting from Andy. No surprises. Kelce is a little bit the other way.

“Kelce helps Andy loosen up and stay young. You’ve got to stay on your toes with Kelce. Having fun is what Kelce is about. That’s just how it is.

“Kelce needs that guidance. Andy put him in a box, but it wasn’t a little box. He would let him do his thing but there were some parameters.”

Kelce could have earned more in his career but chose to stay with the Chiefs in order to chase Super Bowls with the league’s top quarterback Mahomes.

Reid was another huge draw.

“I know what I have here is special and I can’t get that anywhere else,” Kelce said.

“Coach Reid is one of the biggest reasons for that. I can’t even fathom going anywhere else and having the same success. I would hope I would have gained the same skill sets, but I’ve heard how things are in other buildings, with other organizations. So I’ve been more than blessed.

“That goes for things off the field, too. Everybody knows I’m a fun-loving guy, that I like to get out of the house, but he puts in more work than anybody that I’ve ever met, and what that does is hold you to a standard that you have to match. Being prepared is his biggest thing.”

Character concerns have seen many players tumble down Draft boards.

Coach Reid is a prime example of the rewards that can be found when you take a leap of faith.