Jason Burgos
With rumblings that this season will be Travis Kelce’s last in the NFL with the Kansas City Chiefs, the future Hall of Famer just made a major investment in one of his biggest post-career endeavors.
On Wednesday morning, the 11-time Pro Bowler and three-time Super Bowl champion revealed that he has purchased a minority stake in his hometown baseball team, the Cleveland Guardians.
“I have so much love for this city. I say it all the time: I’m just a kid from the Heights living the dream,” he told ESPN. “I credit every good thing in my life to Cleveland and being raised here with the values and the people and the work ethic. Cleveland Heights is such a diverse and dynamic place.
“Every friend, neighbor, teacher, and teammate — they all made me the man I am today. It just fueled such a deep appreciation for life, community, and service. That Cleveland-against-the-world mentality runs deep.
Kelce has expanded his reach outside of football over the last five years. He has an extremely lucrative distribution deal for his New Heights podcast that he co-hosts with his brother, Jason Kelce, and he has also been dipping his toes in the acting game as well.
While his stake in the Guardians doesn’t mean he will have real influence on team decisions, he could become a top ambassador for the club once his NFL career is over.
We have seen quite a few sports legends get into ownership roles in recent years. NBA greats like Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson have owned stakes in major sports brands like the Los Angeles Dodgers and Charlotte Hornets. New England Patriots icon Tom Brady joined that club two years ago when he purchased a stake in the Las Vegas Raiders, and MLB great Alex Rodriguez is now a part-owner of the Minnesota Timberwolves.
