Why Travis Kelce Introduced Himself as ‘Charles’ Growing Up

Jason Kelce revealed that his brother, Travis Kelce, had a special moniker for himself growing up.

“He was the crazy guy; I think we both were pretty reckless whenever the snow was falling in Cleveland,” Jason, 37, said of Travis, 35, on ESPN’s Postseason NFL Countdown before the Kansas City Chiefs played against the Houston Texans on Saturday, January 18. “He also told the entire block his name was Charles.”

Jason explained that the Chiefs tight end gave himself the nickname in honor of one of his favorite athletes. “His favorite basketball player was Charles Barkley,” Jason noted.

It wasn’t until years later that the family found out Travis had been going by a different name when introducing himself to their neighbors.

See if you can guess which Kelce brother is used to the KC weather pic.twitter.com/9nMYC8SNe2

— New Heights (@newheightshow) January 18, 2025

“We found out at a block party because all the other parents were like, ‘There goes Charles,’” Jason said. “That’s the kind of kid Travis was. He was always living up to all of his sports idols, for sure.”

After Jason’s admission, Travis and the Chiefs beat the Texans 23-14 and advanced to the AFC Championship game later this month against the Buffalo Bills. The AFC title champion will move on to represent the conference in the 2025 Super Bowl against the winner of the NFC division, which will either be the Washington Commanders or the Philadelphia Eagles.

While Travis idolized Barkley during his childhood, the former NBA star revealed that he also looked up to a guy at his school — who happened to have the name Travis. During an appearance on Travis and Jason’s “New Heights” podcast, Barkley, 61, explained his previous desire to change his name.

“He was great from, like, junior high,” Barkley said on an August 2023 episode of the basketball player named Travis. “So everybody loved Travis. But I was named after my grandfather. When I started getting better at basketball, I said, ‘Mom, what do we think about me changing my name to Travis?’ She says, ‘What the hell are you talking about?’ … She says, ‘That’s your grandfather’s name.’ And I said, ‘Yeah, and he’s a nobody!’”

Barkley gushed that he has “love” for the name Travis. “You got to be able to play something if your name Travis,” Barkley said, to which Jason replied, “That’s a bada– name. For the most part.”

After the former Eagles center asked whether Barkley had thought about the name Jason, the former NBA star replied, “No.”