Travis Kelce aims to deliver joy in the Hollywood scene, with his ambition being to achieve this.
"Alright, let's do this," he says in the promo, but it wasn't quite that simple, as Aaron Eanes, his manager, revealed to CNN lately.
"People didn't actually view tight ends as 'talented' back then, so it was more like, 'If you want to be in the entertainment world, you kind of need to do something unexpected but also something that will give you a chance to learn,'" Eanes recalled telling Kelce.
We know now that Kelce didn't find a long-term romantic partner, but he did gain the experience he needed to start breaking into Hollywood.
Eanes and his twin brother Andre, who also manages Kelce, have known the three-time Super Bowl champ since he was a student at the University of Cincinnati and have helped transform Kelce's commercial career and Hollywood pursuits from reality TV to actual reality. While it was always a lofty goal, Eanes said it's easy to root for Kelce, who hasn't changed much since the early days of their partnership.
"He's still the same carefree guy who just enjoys life... He's just very rooted in who he is," Eanes said.
It's been nearly eight years since Kelce appeared on E!, but Eanes said the football star is finally in a place where his Hollywood pursuits are guided by his innate interests.
"Travis will do what Travis wants to do," Eanes said, laughing.
As Kelce continues to solidify his status as one of the most talked-about stars in the NFL, his agents are working hard to set him up for Hollywood success in the offseason – and his post-football future, whenever that may be.
"We have a lot of other opportunities that keep him excited. So I think ultimately, whenever he decides to stop playing, he'll still be quite busy if he wants to be," Eanes said.
In the meantime, here's what Eanes is saying about where Kelce's been, what he's up to now, and where he's going in Tinseltown.
‘Moonbase 8’ (2020)
After "Catching Kelce," Kelce didn't take on any work off the football field until 2020.
According to Eanes, they wanted to take a break to recalibrate.
"We wanted to wait for a project that was more in line with what he would want to do, which was scripted comedy and comedy," Eanes said.
Enter “Moonbase 8,” Showtime and A24’s space comedy that starred Tim Heidecker, Fred Armisen and John C. Reilly. Kelce's cameo in the pilot episode was short-lived, as his character – a satirical version of himself – was killed off halfway through the episode.
Nevertheless, it was an invaluable experience for Kelce.
"Being able to work with Armisen, Heidecker, and Rielly and learn from them on set gave him another idea of what it would take to be in the business," Eanes said.
‘New Heights’ podcast (2022)
Kelce has co-hosted the “New Heights with Jason and Travis Kelce” podcast with his brother, former Philadelphia Eagles star Jason Kelce, since 2022. Now in its third season, the brothers recently signed a multi-million-dollar deal to bring the podcast to Amazon's Wondery, a deal that Eanes helped broker.
"We want to make sure we're great partners," Eanes said. "We want to make sure we're doing a good job in delivering value to Wondery and then growing that property."
Delivering value is just as important to Kelce as delivering authenticity, which is easy when you co-host a show with your brother.
The podcast, said Eanes, has “allowed him to be closer with his brother than he’s ever been.”
‘Saturday Night Live’ (2023 and 2024)
Just one month after the Kansas City Chiefs won the Super Bowl last year, Kelce stepped onto the Studio 8H stage to make his hosting debut on “Saturday Night Live.”
It was an emotional moment for Kelce, who said during his monologue that he grew up watching the long-running sketch comedy show with his mother, Donna Kelce.
"And to be standing on this stage, whew," Kelce said, getting choked up. "Pretty surreal."
Kelce's dream of hosting “SNL” goes back to his love for comedy, according to Eanes.
"He's a big fan of comedy, he's a big fan of movies. He's a big fan of just entertainment and bringing joy to people," he said. "So whether it's when you watch him play on the field, or whether you watch him on ‘SNL’ or if you watch him on his podcast, at the end of the day, it's just a way for him to kind of show off his personality."
The next time Kelce appeared on “SNL” was in October, appearing in a short cameo alongside his then-new girlfriend Swift.
‘Grotesquerie’ (2024)
Kelce has previously spoken about his interest in comedy and how he's most interested in pursuing roles in the scripted comedy space. So when it was announced that he was cast in “Grotesquerie,” a creepy new thriller from producer Ryan Murphy, it came as a bit of a surprise to some.
"He was excited by the challenge of a drama that he’d never done," Eanes said of Kelce's decision to take on the role in Murphy's next nightmare-inducing offering.
The draw was also collaborating with a Hollywood producer similar to Murphy, whom Eanes believed Kelce was in secure hands with due to Murphy's "highly engaged in the process and possessing a clear vision for new talent."
"Given his level of involvement, there's a sense of protection," he further added. "As a result, you can truly live freely, in an unusual way, to explore and accomplish what's necessary."
'Brainier than a Celebrity' (2024)
In October, viewers will witness Kelce in his next significant hosting role as 'Brainier than a Celebrity' premieres on Prime Video.
This opportunity held more sentimental value for Kelce compared to others.
"He was fond of game shows as a child," Eanes explained. "So, I suppose it's about fulfilling a childhood dream of being a game show host."
Kelce has openly expressed his love for game shows, mentioning on an episode of 'New Heights' that his favorite shows as a kid were 'The Price is Right' and 'Family Feud.'
"I've always aspired to be part of it, either as a contestant or a presenter," Kelce added.
'Happy Gilmore 2' Reboot
Kelce's podcast granted him a strong platform. Consequently, when he publicly expressed his interest in being a part of Adam Sandler's 'Happy Gilmore' sequel, Sandler took notice.
Surprisingly, Kelce and Sandler were the initiators of his cameo in 'Happy Gilmore 2.'
"He communicated with Sandler," Eanes confirmed with a laugh, adding that the conversation took place after Kelce had already agreed to appear in the film.
Just like the audience, Eanes mentioned that Kelce had been a fan of Sandler's films as a kid, making connecting with Sandler for the sequel was a significant moment that Kelce deemed a "wish come true."
Sandler is set to star in and co-write the long-awaited sequel to the 1996 golf comedy, which is scheduled to stream on Netflix. A release date, however, has yet to be announced.
"We're going to have a blast because the scene you're in is with so many renowned golfers. It's going to be terrific," Sandler told Kelce during a recent episode of 'New Heights.' "You're going to be hilarious."
In the end, reality TV proved to be the stepping stone that Kelce needed. But, Eanes joked, he has no intentions of returning to it.
"You don't need a show to keep track of what he's up to."
Despite his initial success in reality TV, Travis Kelce's true passion lies in scripted comedy and entertainment. Eanes and his brother have worked tirelessly to help Kelce transition from reality TV to scripted roles, securing him a multi-million-dollar deal to co-host the "New Heights with Jason and Travis Kelce" podcast on Amazon's Wondery.
Kelce's love for comedy eventually led him to appear on Saturday Night Live, an opportunity he found deeply emotional and fulfilling. His appearances on SNL highlight his ability to bring joy to people through entertainment.
