Jason Kelce Parents: Meet Ed and Donna Kelce, the Couple Behind the NFL Stars

Jason Kelce was born to Ed Kelce and Donna Kelce on November 5, 1987, in Greenville, North Carolina. The retired Philadelphia Eagles center and his younger brother, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, were raised in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, by parents who shaped their work ethic, toughness, and competitive drive.

Ed and Donna married in the late 1970s and divorced after nearly 25 years of marriage, waiting until both sons had graduated from college before separating. They remain friendly to this day.

Ed Kelce: The Father Jason Calls His Role Model

Ed Kelce worked as a manufacturer’s representative in the steel industry. He was a high school football player himself and became deeply involved in his sons’ athletic development, coaching them in baseball and serving as a volunteer for their various teams.

Jason has spoken extensively about his father’s influence. In a February 2025 appearance on The Steam Room podcast, he said: “My Dad was my role model growing up. I thought he was the smartest guy in the world. I thought he was the most impressive human being. Everything he said, I took like it was the God’s truth. He instilled so much of a toughness and a work ethic and a mentality in me and my brother that I’ll always be indebted and grateful to him.”

Ed’s involvement went beyond coaching. Jason recalled on X that his father “coached little league, helped with hockey (even though he couldn’t skate), was on the chain gang for football, was always lending a hand to help our teams and schools.”

During his 2024 retirement speech, Jason credited his father’s “unwavering belief” for his success, saying through tears: “A father who is present, loving and devoted just may be the greatest gift a child can ask for in our society.”

Donna Kelce: The Breadwinner and “America’s Mom”

Donna Kelce worked in banking for more than three decades, primarily at KeyBank. She graduated from Ohio University in 1974 with a degree in communications and had originally aspired to work in radio or television before pursuing a career in finance.

Jason has praised his mother for balancing a demanding career with raising two sons. “I had no idea how hard you were working, and everything you were doing for our family,” he said on The Steam Room podcast, describing her as a “loving and nurturing person.”

Donna became a public figure in her own right as “America’s Mom” during her sons’ NFL careers. She attended games for both Jason and Travis, even wearing a custom split jersey when they faced each other in Super Bowl LVII. The jersey later earned a spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

In 2024, Donna was named one of Glamour’s Women of the Year. She made her acting debut in Hallmark’s Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story in November 2024 and competed on season 4 of The Traitors in 2026.

Athletic Genes From Their Mother’s Side

While Ed was heavily involved in his sons’ sports, he admitted to ESPN in 2020 that the athletic talent likely came from Donna’s side of the family. Donna ran track and field in high school, secretly participating because her father disapproved of girls playing sports. She won several medals at the Junior Olympics in running and high jump. Her brother, Don Blalock, played football at Purdue University.

Ed told his sons on their New Heights podcast: “I would probably give it up and say athletic talent comes more from her side of the family.”

A Family Built on Partnership

Both Jason and Travis have described their parents as a “tag team” growing up. Donna said the couple stayed together for years despite knowing their marriage was not working because they wanted to provide stability for their sons. “Ours was a very friendly relationship. So, we could do that and make sure that their life was as normal as possible,” she told Glamour.

Travis described their approach to parenting: “They were always the ultimate partners in terms of being there for us as kids. There was no division in terms of anger at each other.”

After the divorce, Ed moved from Cleveland to Philadelphia, living on a nine-acre farm about a mile from Jason’s family. He has remained a constant presence in his sons’ lives and his grandchildren’s lives.

Ed has four granddaughters through Jason and wife Kylie Kelce: Wyatt, Elliotte, Bennett, and Finnley.