CLEVELAND — Mike Jones coached both Jason and Travis Kelce when they played at Cleveland Heights High School. He has kept in touch with the brothers even as their NFL careers have taken them to different cities.
“They invite me out,” Jones said. “I went to some Pro Bowls and things like that. The parents invite me out when they play each other.”
They each donated one of their jerseys to the school, and they’ve taken their hometown pride with them throughout their careers.
The two returned home to get inducted into the Cleveland Heights hall of fame in 2018.
“Travis keeps a lot of Heights with him,” Jones said. “Travis is so connected to his former teammates and friends that live here in Cleveland Heights. Jason being a little more settled, a little older with the family, he doesn’t get back here as much as Travis does.”
Travis wore No. 1 and Jason wore No. 48 for Cleveland Heights. They’ll now be the first brothers to play against each other in a Super Bowl. Jones said he’s glad the brothers already have a ring, so he can just sit back and enjoy the game.
“One here will definitely be a one-up on each other,” Jones said. “A little Thanksgiving conversation possibly when the family’s together. But we’re extremely proud that they already have a ring and we know that we’re gonna be winners regardless of the outcome of the game this weekend.”
They’ve had a competitive nature since they were teenagers at Cleveland Heights. Jason is the older brother and was a walk-on at Cincinnati. Travis followed his brother there on a scholarship a few years later.
“Oh yeah, Travis definitely wanted to go to Cincinnati, wanted to be with big bro,” Jones said.
Both brothers are considered among the greatest of all time at their positions. Yet neither of them played those positions in high school.
Jason plays center for the Eagles, but played fullback and linebacker in high school. He switched to the offensive line at Cincinnati. Travis was recruited as a quarterback but moved to tight end. Jones knew they were athletic enough to play more than one position.
“Travis, if he could throw the ball to himself he would have,” Jones said. “He always wanted to play some receiver. Jason was a tough guy. Jason would play anywhere we asked him to play.”
Both brothers are known for their animated personalities.
Jason became an immortal in Philly after his underdog speech at the Eagles’ Super Bowl parade.
And Travis is just as quotable.
Jones said the brothers were like that in high school. They were two different kinds of intense.
“Travis being the more of a jokester type of young man,” Jones said. “Had a lot of friends. Very popular, always had a smile on his face. Jason was a little more intense guy. Jason was a studier. Jason was a guy that would study tape and be the best that he could possibly be.”
Jones said what matters the most is that even with their fame and fortune, the brothers haven’t forgotten about the Heights.
“They still recognize Cleveland Heights almost in every walk, every T-shirt that they put on,” Jones said. “It’s important for our student-athletes to see that.”
