Travis Kelce may be best known for his athletic prowess, but the Kansas City Chiefs star recently opened up about his academic experiences, revealing that he wasn’t just about sports as a kid—he was also pretty good at school. In an interview with Extra published on Wednesday, Oct. 2, Kelce reflected on his time in the classroom and his surprising academic strengths.
At 34, Kelce, who now hosts the game show Are You Smarter Than a Celebrity?, shared that he “was one of those kids that tested rather high” in school, but like many athletes, his focus leaned more toward sports than studying. Despite his passion for athletics, Kelce excelled in certain subjects, especially in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) fields.
“When it comes to the questions on the show, which range from elementary school topics, I stick to my realm—STEM, science, math, things like that,” Kelce said. “I just stay in there. But any history questions, I’m like, ‘I don’t know if anybody knows that,’ and sure enough, everybody does but me,” he joked, revealing a humorous gap in his knowledge of history.
While Kelce might not have aced history, he credits his older brother, Jason Kelce, a retired NFL player and current Monday Night Countdown commentator, as the more academically driven sibling.
“He was the very studious one,” Kelce said, reflecting on their school days. “Jason was an honors student. He tested well, took all advanced classes, and really challenged himself academically. I just thought, ‘That’s too much homework for me,’ so I didn’t follow his path there. But I think Jason would do pretty good on the show.”
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Kelce’s admiration for his brother’s work ethic shines through, but so does his playful personality, as he added, “I’ll be interested to hear what Jason says when he sees the show.”
Kelce, who has also ventured into acting with his role in the Grotesquerie cast, first expressed his excitement for hosting Are You Smarter Than a Celebrity? when the announcement was made in April. Growing up, Kelce was a big fan of game shows, so this opportunity was a dream come true.
“I grew up loving game shows, and I’m excited to be following in the footsteps of so many TV icons by hosting my very first one with Are You Smarter Than a Celebrity?” Kelce said at the time. “The original show was a huge success, so bringing a new format with everyone’s favorite celebrities to the screen will definitely be entertaining.”
Kelce shared his enthusiasm about being on the hosting side of the show, excited to see how well-known personalities fare under the pressure of elementary school-level trivia. “I’m just happy to be on the hosting side of the equation here and excited to see how these famous faces keep up.”
The show promises a fun lineup of contestants, featuring comedians like Nikki Glaser, Natasha Leggero, Nicole Byer, and Ron Funches, as well as reality stars and influencers like Vanderpump Rules’ Lala Kent and podcaster Sophia Stallone.
Rounding out the star-studded competition are Lilly Singh, Thursday Night Football analyst Ryan Fitzpatrick, former NFL wide receiver Chad Ochocinco, and Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Garcelle Beauvais.
Are You Smarter Than a Celebrity? premieres with its first three episodes on Oct. 16 on Prime Video, followed by weekly releases. As for Kelce, after hosting duties, he’ll return to the field when the Chiefs face off against the New Orleans Saints on Monday, Oct. 7, for ESPN’s Monday Night Football.
Fans of both the NFL and game shows will be excited to see how Kelce balances his dual role as both a football superstar and a charismatic TV host. One thing’s for sure—whether he’s on the field or on the screen, Travis Kelce continues to surprise and entertain audiences everywhere.
