Jeff Rotsky and Jason Kelce helped Travis Kelce fight his way back to the NFL (Getty Images)
That warning proved important when Travis lost his Cincinnati scholarship after a positive marijuana test.
“Son, God doesn’t give you anything that you can’t handle,” Rotsky told him. He spent the season away from the team and took a job conducting phone surveys to help cover his expenses. The setback forced him to confront the consequences of his actions. He then warned Travis that the situation would test his will and character.
Travis finished his college career with 45 catches for 722 yards and eight touchdowns in 2012. The Kansas City Chiefs selected him in the third round of the 2013 NFL Draft, with the 63rd overall pick.
As per The Philadelphia Inquirer on, Rotsky said, “I felt like when Travis had his rough spots, Jason was the key. Travis Kelce ’s NFL career almost went off track before he played a single professional game. A positive marijuana test at the University of Cincinnati cost him his scholarship and left him facing a difficult season away from football. But he had people who refused to let him give up. Former high school coach Jeff Rotsky kept pushing him through late-night phone calls, while his older brother, Jason Kelce, gave him a place to stay and helped him find his way back. Jason’s support gave Travis a stable place to live while he worked to get back on the team. Rotsky later credited Jason with playing a key role in helping his younger brother through the difficult period. He also recalled spending considerable time talking Travis through difficult situations. Rotsky had predicted that Travis would reach the NFL, but he also understood how easily poor decisions could derail that future. Jason helped his brother through the practical challenges, while Rotsky kept reminding him what he needed to do.