Travis Kelce repaid former Kansas City Chiefs veteran Dwayne Bowe years after learning what it means to be a great teammate (Getty Images)
In September 2026, he gave Bowe the jersey he wore in the Chiefs’ Week 2 win over the Indianapolis Colts. He won the Chiefs’ Mack Lee Hill Rookie of the Year award in 2007. His standout season came in 2010, when he caught 72 passes for 1,162 yards and 15 touchdowns. Their connection made headlines again after Bowe attended Kansas City’s Week 2 game against the Indianapolis Colts in September 2026. On September 28, Bowe shared a social media post revealing that Kelce had given him the jersey from the game.
Because of their history together, bowe had attended the game, and the gift meant more.
“You can’t find a single person on this Earth that has anything bad to say about Dwayne Bowe, and who he was in the building,” Kelce said. Travis Kelce has given former Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Dwayne Bowe a reason to remember their connection. Bowe helped Kelce understand what it takes to be a good teammate during his early NFL years. More than a decade later, Kelce returned that kindness with a personal gift. Kelce later spoke about his former teammate on the New Heights podcast, recalling how Bowe influenced him both inside the locker room and on the field. His words also explained why he was so happy to see the former Chiefs receiver back at the stadium. Bowe had earned that respect through his performances as well. He earned his only Pro Bowl selection that year and made the Second-Team All-Pro roster.
Bowe arrived in Kansas City as a first-round pick in 2007. By the time the Chiefs drafted Kelce in the third round in 2013, Bowe was already an established player and a respected voice in the offense.
“He was the OG in the locker room and the offense in my early years,” Kelce said. Kelce was still finding his place in the NFL, and the veteran gave him an example of how to approach the job. “Really showed me what it was to be a great teammate. Somebody who just loved the game of football and loved the atmosphere of being a pro and living out your dreams. He instilled that in everybody in the building, man.”