Kelce Brothers Cheer On U.S. Women's Hockey Star After Viral Trump Call

Travis and Jason Kelce praised Laila Edwards, the first Black woman to represent the U.S. in Olympic hockey, after her gold medal win.

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

NFL stars Travis and Jason Kelce showed their support for U.S. women's hockey player Laila Edwards, who helped the team win gold at the recent Winter Olympics. The Kelce brothers, who are from the same Ohio city as Edwards, praised her performance and impact on the sport. This comes just days after President Donald Trump made degrading comments about the women's team that sparked backlash.

Why it matters

The Kelce brothers' public support for Edwards highlights her historic achievement as the first Black woman to represent the U.S. in Olympic hockey. Their praise helps shine a light on Edwards and the women's team, who faced criticism from the president following their gold medal win.

The details

On a recent episode of their 'New Heights' podcast, Travis Kelce jokingly challenged Edwards, a fellow Cleveland Heights native, about the number of banners in their shared hometown hockey rink. Travis praised Edwards' gold medal-winning performance, saying he would 'tip his cap' to her. Jason Kelce also commended Edwards' 'humbleness' and the strong bond between the women's hockey players. The Kelce brothers previously helped fund travel for Edwards' family and friends to watch her play at the Olympics.

  • The Kelce brothers made their comments on their podcast shortly after the U.S. women's hockey team won gold at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
  • President Donald Trump made his degrading comments about the women's team just days before the Kelce brothers showed their support for Edwards.

The players

Travis Kelce

An NFL player and brother of Jason Kelce, who is also an NFL player. The Kelce brothers grew up in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, the same hometown as Laila Edwards.

Jason Kelce

An NFL player and brother of Travis Kelce, who is also an NFL player. The Kelce brothers grew up in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, the same hometown as Laila Edwards.

Laila Edwards

A member of the U.S. women's hockey team who won a gold medal at the 2026 Winter Olympics. She is the first Black woman to represent the U.S. in Olympic hockey.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“I'm just going to say — Laila, I've got two banners up in the Cleveland Heights hockey rink. I'm not sure how many banners you have. I'll let you have [the title] because you're the only one to have gold. So, a little tip of the cap to you, Laila. That was awesome to see you go and get it.”

— Travis Kelce, NFL Player (New Heights Podcast)

“Laila's humbleness and the bond between the women's hockey players is really cool to see.”

— Jason Kelce, NFL Player (New Heights Podcast)

What’s next

The U.S. women's hockey team is expected to be invited to the White House in the future to celebrate their gold medal victory, after President Trump's previous controversial comments.

The takeaway

The Kelce brothers' public support for Laila Edwards and the U.S. women's hockey team helps amplify the historic achievement of the first Black woman to represent the U.S. in Olympic hockey, especially in the wake of President Trump's degrading remarks about the team.