Travis Kelce’s No.87 Super Bowl jersey is a poignant tribute to brother Jason

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The Kelce brothers have come a long way.

Jason and Travis grew up in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, and went on to room together as students at the University of Cincinnati.

Jason and Travis have both won the Super Bowl in their illustrious NFL careers

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Jason and Travis have both won the Super Bowl in their illustrious NFL careersCredit: getty

They both eventually made it to the NFL after Jason was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in 2011, while Travis joined the Kansas City Chiefs in 2013.

Both brothers went on to win the Super Bowl for their respective teams (Travis doing so twice) across their Hall of Fame careers.

Travis is days away from a shot at a third ring as the Chiefs take on San Francisco at Super Bowl LVIII this Sunday.

However, had it not been for Jason’s intervention during Travis’ wayward college years, the younger Kelce may never have made it to the pros.

As a result, the Chiefs tight end owes a lot to his older sibling.

As a small token of his appreciation, Travis honours Jason every time he steps out onto the field by wearing No.87 on his jersey.

Speaking ahead of last year’s Super Bowl – which saw the Chiefs beat the Eagles – Travis revealed his number 87 jersey number is a tribute to his brother.

“If there is a Kelce legacy, two brothers making it to the NFL, it all started in 1987 because this big guy [Jason] was born in 1987,” Trav said.

The Kelce brother opened up on their childhood in a revealing interview with NFL Films

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The Kelce brother opened up on their childhood in a revealing interview with NFL FilmsCredit: youtube @NFL
Travis credits brother Jason for allowing him to have a career in the NFL

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Travis credits brother Jason for allowing him to have a career in the NFLCredit: Youtube @NFL

“I’m forever in debt to this guy for putting his name, our name, putting his honour on the line to get me another chance. When I say I owe it all to him, I do.”

“I love you. You’re the only reason why I wear the number 87 anyway,” he said as he handed his brother a jersey.

He added: “I never told you that, man. You started the legacy.”

On the other hand, Jason’s number 62 jersey number has significantly less sentimentality attached to it.

The Eagles center said in an interview, “The significance of No 62 is that when I made it to the National Football League (NFL) this is the number that was given to me and I am honoured to wear it. Growing up I kind of liked the No. 13 for the sports that I played.

Jason celebrates the Chiefs' AFC title win with brother Travis

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Jason celebrates the Chiefs’ AFC title win with brother TravisCredit: Getty

“But I had a football coach in middle school that once said to me, ‘The player makes the number, not the other way around,’ 

“Since then, I’ve taken the number that was handed to me. I have an identity with 62 and I’m going to have that forever.” 

The Kelces made NFL history last season by becoming the first siblings to face off in the Super Bowl – which became known as the ‘Kelce Bowl’ due to their involvement.

Travis and Patrick Mahomes got the better of Jason and the Eagles, winning 38-35 to capture their second Vince Lombardi Trophy together.

This year, Jason has been able to follow his brother’s route to a fourth Super Bowl in five years after Philadelphia crashed out of the playoffs to Tampa Bay.

The veteran center hit the headlines for his shirtless celebrations in Kansas City’s Divisional Round win over Buffalo.

Jason is likely to be in attendance at Allegiant Stadium to see if his brother can get his hands on the Lombardi Trophy for a third time.

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