How Travis Kelce’s Suspension Over Positive Marijuana Test Led Him To Clinch Three Super Bowl Rings

When Taylor Lewan and Will Compton were on the podcast “Bussin’ With The Boys” back in July 2023, Travis Kelce revealed the details. His reckless college days got him into trouble, he admitted, before the 2010 Allstate Sugar Bowl.

The Kansas City Chiefs star TE straight up said, “I got kicked out of college because of it,” he said. “I partied a little too much down there, got hit with a drug test and from that point on, I realized I gotta tighten the f— up.”

Kelce shared that this hiccup pushed him out of the Cincinnati Bearcats’ quarterback room and right into the tight ends room.

He reflected on the whole situation, saying, “It basically kicked me into the tight end room. I was still rocking QB back then. They were like, ‘Sure, you can stick around, but we don’t need a quarterback. Just be an athlete on the scout team for a year, and we’ll figure things out.’”

Let’s go back a little to Kelce’s two-star recruiting season. He turned down scholarships to Akron, Eastern Michigan, and Miami (Ohio) in favor of the University of Cincinnati.

2008 saw Kelce take a hiatus, but he returned in 2009 with a bang. He participated in 11 games, playing expertly as both a tight end and a quarterback. Eight times he carried the ball down the field, covering 47 yards and scored two scores. And to cap it all, he successfully caught a pass and gained three solid yards.

However, suspension came as a blow to Travis. After a one-year timeout, Kelce bounced back for the 2011 season, catching passes and scoring touchdowns. His final college season in 2012 was a beast mode moment – personal records shattered, earning first-team all-conference honors, and even snagging the College Football Performance Awards Tight End of the Year title in March 2013.

Fast forward to the big leagues – Kelce got drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the third round, 63rd pick overall, in the 2013 NFL draft.

Travis Kelce’s NFL Journey

2013 Season: The Kansas City Chiefs selected Travis Kelce in the third round of the 2013 NFL Draft. Andy Reid, the new head coach of the Chiefs, inked Kelce to a rookie deal worth $3.12 million, which would last four years. But a preseason knee injury ended up ruining Kelce’s season, and following microfracture surgery, he was placed on injured reserve. For the whole regular season, he only played one snap.
2014 Season: Kelce recorded his first NFL touchdown in Week 3 against the Miami Dolphins. He faced a fine for unsportsmanlike conduct in November but had a standout season with 862 receiving yards, making him the Chiefs’ leading receiver.

2015 Season: Kelce had a strong start to the season, earning his first Pro Bowl selection. He played in all 16 regular-season games, totaling 72 catches for 875 yards and five touchdowns. The Chiefs made the playoffs, and Kelce had an impressive debut with eight receptions for 128 yards in the Wild Card Round.

2016 Season: Kelce agreed to a $46 million, five-year contract deal. After a successful season, he set career highs in receiving yards (1,125) and yards (1,125). He was selected for his second Pro Bowl and made the First Team All-Pro.

2017 Season: With a career-high eight receiving touchdowns, Kelce maintained his winning ways. Among tight ends, he was second with 1,038 receiving yards at the end of the season. Kelce recorded four receptions for 66 yards and a touchdown despite the team’s defeat in the Wild Card Round.

Season 2018: Kelce broke the NFL record for the most receiving yards by a tight end in a single season with his incredible season with quarterback Patrick Mahomes. In the AFC Championship game, the Chiefs were defeated despite receiving a first-round bye.

Season of 2019: With 97 receptions for 1,229 yards and five scores, Kelce was a key player in the Chiefs’ Super Bowl victory. With four consecutive seasons of 1,000 yards or more, he became the first tight end in NFL history.

2020 Season: Kelce had another outstanding season, setting personal records with 105 receptions and 1,416 receiving yards. The Chiefs made it to Super Bowl LV but fell short against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

2021 Season: Kelce had a remarkable season, surpassing 1,000 receiving yards for the sixth consecutive year. He made key plays in the playoffs, helping the Chiefs reach the AFC Championship but losing in overtime to the Cincinnati Bengals.

2022 Season: Kelce had a historic season, reaching 10,000 career receiving yards and securing his seventh consecutive 1,000-yard season. The Chiefs won Super Bowl LVII against the Philadelphia Eagles, marking Kelce’s second Super Bowl victory.

2023 Season: Kelce had another impressive season, setting personal records and helping the Chiefs win their third consecutive Super Bowl in Super Bowl LVIII. He ended the regular season with 984 receiving yards and five touchdowns.