Jason Kelce Defends Brother Travis’ Antics While Accepting College Diploma

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - MARCH 04: Jason Kelce #62 of the Philadelphia Eagles reacts after announcing his retirement from the NFL at NovaCare Complex on March 04, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)

Jason Kelce has stepped up in his brother’s defense after several people criticized the Kansas City Chiefs tight end for the way he acted while officially receiving his college diploma earlier this week.

Both of the Kelce brothers studied at the University of Cincinnati, where they played college football for the Cincinnati Bearcats before launching their NFL careers. But when they returned to their alma mater on Thurs., April 11 for their New Heights podcast’s live show, Jason and Travis Kelce were reminded that they had never actually picked up their college diplomas when they left school years ago.

At the end of Thursday’s show, the brothers were surprised with a commencement ceremony inside Fifth Third Arena that included the university’s president, Neville Pinto, and athletics director, John Cunningham. Dressed in a black cap and gown, Travis shook hands with Pinto before throwing his head back and chugging a can of beer while onstage.

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As seen in a video clip that the university’s sports announcer, Dan Hoard, later shared on X, Pinto and Jason both laughed as Travis pounded the beer while the Beastie Boys’ “Fight For Your Right” played in the arena.

The university’s football team also shared photos from the ceremony on social media. While the team’s Instagram post emphasized the humor of the moment, several people left comments criticizing Travis’ behavior.

On Sat., April 13, Jason responded to one person on X who had tagged him in a tweet requesting that the former Philadelphia Eagles center “please question your brother for the graduation antics.” Jason explained that the ceremony was intended to “poke fun” at the brothers, not serve as a serious event.

"I know it looks like a graduation from the video, but this was actually at the end of a New Heights Live podcast that we put on to raise money for the University’s NIL,” Jason tweeted. “The university did this to poke fun at my brother and I for never really picking up our diplomas.”

Both Jason, 36, and Travis, 34, missed their college graduation ceremonies in 2010 and 2012, and while Travis was preparing to officially graduate in 2022, he missed his flight.

Even before receiving their diplomas, the brothers appeared thrilled for the opportunity to return to their alma mater for their podcast’s first arena show. Both of their parents, Donna and Ed Kelce, attended the show to support them, as did Jason’s wife, Kylie Kelce.

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