Chiefs TE Travis Kelce Almost Played Basketball at West Virginia

Kelce explains how he nearly committed to the Mountaineers before choosing Cincinnati and the NFL

Apr. 4, 2026 at 1:00pm

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In a conversation with his brother Jason and new University of Cincinnati men's basketball coach Jerrod Calhoun, Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce revealed that he heavily considered playing basketball at West Virginia University after a visit to Morgantown. Kelce was seen as a key recruit by the Mountaineers coaching staff, but ultimately decided to commit to Cincinnati and pursue a football career that has led him to the NFL and the Kansas City Chiefs.

Why it matters

Kelce's story provides a unique glimpse into the decision-making process of a top-level athlete who had opportunities in multiple sports. It highlights how factors like family, coaching relationships, and a player's own sense of integrity can influence these pivotal choices that shape an athlete's career path.

The details

Kelce said he was impressed by the 'camaraderie' and 'how everybody on the bench was involved in the game' under West Virginia head coach Bob Huggins. However, Kelce's father, Ed Kelce, made him reconsider his decision, telling him 'You are a man of your word. You wanna be like these kids that commit to a university and de-commit and now the integrity of your word doesn't mean anything?' Ultimately, Kelce chose to play football at Cincinnati, a decision that has led him to become one of the NFL's elite tight ends with the Kansas City Chiefs.

  • Kelce visited Morgantown, West Virginia and heavily considered playing basketball for the Mountaineers.
  • Calhoun was an assistant coach at West Virginia from 2007-2012 and recruited Kelce at the time.

The players

Travis Kelce

All-Pro tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs who considered playing basketball at West Virginia University before committing to the University of Cincinnati.

Jason Kelce

Travis Kelce's brother, an NFL center for the Philadelphia Eagles.

Jerrod Calhoun

Current head coach of the University of Cincinnati men's basketball team, who was an assistant coach at West Virginia when he recruited Travis Kelce.

Bob Huggins

Head coach of the West Virginia University men's basketball team during the time he recruited Travis Kelce.

Ed Kelce

Father of Travis and Jason Kelce, who advised Travis to stay true to his word and not decommit from a university.

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What they’re saying

“You guys treat me like family. Like I had never been treated before. I was Jason's little brother and Cincinnati didn't even give me this much attention.”

— Travis Kelce, NFL Tight End

“Trav, I'll be honest man, you could hoop... you were a beast.”

— Jerrod Calhoun, University of Cincinnati Basketball Coach

“He looked at me and said, 'You are a man of your word. You wanna be like these kids that commit to a university and de-commit and now the integrity of your word doesn't mean anything?'”

— Travis Kelce, NFL Tight End

The takeaway

Kelce's story highlights the difficult decisions top athletes face in choosing between multiple sports and the importance of maintaining integrity in the recruiting process. His choice to stay true to his word and commit to Cincinnati ultimately paved the way for his successful NFL career with the Chiefs, demonstrating how a principled approach can lead to long-term success.