Kelce credits therapy after college suspension, refocus for Chiefs

Travis Kelce reeled back more than a few years to recount a pivotal moment in his football life, revealing in a candid interview that therapy helped him reset after a college suspension tied to a marijuana incident. He also described how a recent shift toward acting and other off-field pursuits may have briefly distracted him from his football standards, and he stressed a renewed, single-minded focus as he heads into the 2025 season with the Kansas City Chiefs. The veteran tight end said his brother, Jason Kelce, played a key role in his reinstatement with Cincinnati, and he recalled being required to meet with a therapist for a period of time as part of his return to the field.

The sequence began in his college years when he saw limited playing time with the Bearcats and was suspended for the entire 2010 season after a failed drug test. He returned in 2011 and exploded in 2012, but the suspension lingered in the draft process, contributing to his fall to the Chiefs in the third round. He described the experience as a turning point, saying the conditions of his reinstatement forced him to confront his life’s path and to learn to manage emotions more strategically. The...