CINCINNATI — The Kelce Bowl is seemingly what a lot of football fans are talking about ahead of the big game Sunday. Travis Kelce and his older brother Jason are the first brothers to play against each other in the Super Bowl. And they have Ohio roots, from growing up in Cleveland Heights to attending and playing at the University of Cincinnati.
What You Need To Know
- Travis and Jason Kelce are the first set of brothers to play against each other in the Super Bowl
- The brothers grew up in Cleveland Heights and both played at the University of Cincinnati
- Special teams coordinator Kerry Coombs was on staff when the brothers were Bearcats and said he's proud that they're representing UC
- Coombs and former teammate Walt Stewart said they'll both be rooting for the Kelce brothers
It may seem like a long time ago, but Jason and Travis Kelce once played at Nippert stadium at UC. During their time there, cornerbacks coach and special teams coordinator Kerry Coombs was on the sideline. He's the only remaining coach at UC that coached the brothers.
“I’m really proud of them," Coombs said "In my opinion, they’re going to be the only set of brothers in the Hall of Fame besides the Mannings. And they both played here at the University of Cincinnati and to me, that’s an unbelievable thing.”
Coombs joined the staff while Jason was already here, but helped recruit Travis, who was originally recruited as a quarterback.
“He wants to play," Coombs said. "That’s the thing about Travis, he wasn’t stubborn about being a quarterback. He wanted to play, he wanted the ball in his hands.”
For Coombs, he can’t help but smile when talking about the Kelce brothers and their big personalities.
“I can only imagine what Christmas was like for Ed and Donna growing up because they both kind of take over when they walk in the room," Coombs said. "What you see on the podcast is what you get, that’s really who they are.”
On their podcast, New Heights, the brothers talked about the fact that they’ll be playing each other in the big game, with Travis sporting some Bearcats gear. Former teammate, Walt Stewart, who was in Travis’ class, played with both brothers.
“We spent a lot of time together, offensive guys and defensive guys," Stewart said. "So me and Travis had a really good relationship back then. And then Jason, I would go against Jason all the time because he was an offensive lineman and I was a defensive lineman and I had a bunch of battles with him on the scout team before I started playing.”
Now, Stewart is a defensive line coach for the Bearcats, where he uses players like the Kelces to motivate his guys.
“You just try to teach the young guys about all the former players that were good players here and guys that carried the torch," Stewart said. "You try to use them as much as you can without the back-in-my-day mentality.”
Both coaches say the Kelces are a great representation of UC.
“It’s very fitting," Stewart said. "You got two big-time competitors, two really good leaders, guys that worked their tail off. They’re a great representation of their family but also the university. It’s awesome to really sit back and say 'holy smokes these guys are playing against each other for all the marbles'.”
“It’s incredible," Coombs said. "UC’s had a ton of players play in the Super Bowl. It’s not something that’s new to our university. For us to have the first set of brothers playing against each other, two kids who sat in the room who fought together, and for them to go be a part of this and for this attention to be on the university right now, it’s fantastic, can’t get any better.”
Travis even gave a special shout-out to UC during Super Bowl media day.
"Go Bearcats!" Travis said. "Anybody has a problem with it, fight me. It's all about the Cincinnati baby. I love it. I've always, you know, been extremely prideful about coming from the University of Cincinnati."
But like the Kelces' mom Donna, Coach Coombs and Coach Stewart say they can’t take sides.
“I got the Bearcats in the one!” Stewart said.
“People ask me who I’m rooting for, I’m rooting for the Kelces," Coombs said. "I’m going to watch them and they’re going to refuse to lose.”