I bleed Kansas City Chief’s red and gold. Since I was born there more than a few decades ago, I have been a fan. My parents had season tickets through the 1970s, years that it was difficult to fill Arrowhead Stadium. But I was there. Before I truly understood the game, I was there. When we could bring glass containers into the stadium, I was there. When War Paint still ran a lap around the field for a touchdown, I was there. So please don’t call me a bandwagon fan…it really hurts my feelings.

I will be the first to admit just how much I have enjoyed the Chief’s recent successes. I was born the year they won their first Super Bowl and had to wait 50 years for the next one, but it was wonderful to see. And watching the coverage of this team on and off the field has become addicting…from The Franchise, to Quarterback to Kelce (yes, I realize that show was about Jason and not about Travis, but more on that later). And all the advertising! People can complain about it, but none of you can deny the pure joy that has come with the remake of the Snickers commercial where the poor guy painted CHEFS in the end zone, this one with Andy Reid. Great googly moogly.

I have always loved team sports, either as a participant or an observer. The competition…the rivalries…the excitement. To me, there is nothing more consistently exciting than the last 2 minutes of a college basketball game, and most of the people that I have come across that disagree with me do so because they hate the sound of the shoes on the wooden floor. Music to my ears. But the thing I hate most is seeing the other team in that moment. The disappointment and anguish in their eyes…truly the agony of defeat. The players sitting on the court while One Shining Moment plays for the opposing team. Seeing the second place team being rained on by confetti in the other team’s colors while they are giving congratulations and handshakes to their biggest rivals of the past 3 hours, because they embrace the honor that is good sportsmanship.

Which brings me (in a somewhat circuitous way but stay with me) to the Kelce brothers. Obviously, I have been a fan of Travis for a while and am usually inundated with texts on Sundays telling me what is needed from him for a particular fantasy team to succeed that week. He’s dynamic with a big personality and an ability to make things happen on the field. And while he is half of one of the best bundles in football (#Maauto4ever), he is a prime example of a team player, usually the first person to be there to congratulate a teammate on a great play and also the first to remind them to keep their head up when things don’t go as planned.

I admit I didn’t know much about Philadelphia or the Eagles. In fact, the most knowledge I had about them is that Lincoln Financial Field has their own jail and courthouse to handle the many issues that can occur on any given Sunday…or any gameday really. And I can’t say I care much for their coach from the clips I have seen of him of late, especially hearing his response to fans at Arrowhead, or needing his quarterback to help guide is actions in public. And please remember this is just my opinion. Maybe he dislikes the Chiefs because of the rivalry or maybe because he didn’t enjoy his years on the coaching staff in KC, although I suspect his anger stems from the fact that he knows that he could never get away with saying great googly moogly. I only visited the city of Philadelphia for the first time a few months ago for a meeting and it was lovely, but I definitely didn’t wear any of my Chiefs gear while I was out sightseeing. All of it comes across as a bit intimidating, especially for a sweet, soft-spoken, profanity avoiding, support my team to the end, proper mid-western lady as myself.

Unless you have been living under a rock (and probably even if you have), you have heard of New Heights, the sports podcast of Jason and Travis Kelce. I was hooked from the beginning, a 92%-er at heart, loving the insights and special guests. Although, as a Hufflepuff, I do have some criticisms of that house being the leftovers, but that’s for another blog. These guys are funny and have chemistry that probably only comes from brothers 2 years apart. The love and respect they have for each other is obvious, as is their dedication to their family. Not your classic sports podcast, but that’s what makes it so successful. If you haven’t listened, you are missing out.

And while I was over the moon excited about the Chief’s SB LVII win last year, the face I couldn’t look at was Jason’s. Living in Alabama for a while now, I have a ton of respect for Jalen Hurts, but it was Jason’s reaction that was hard to watch, and then relive on Kelce, the documentary. And when the Eagles visited Arrowhead for MNF this year, I was there on that chilly, rainy night and absolutely hated the outcome of the game, but still had my signs…one for my team, encouraging them to protect their house, and the other one welcoming Jason and other New Heights fans to the greatest stadium in the world (not an opinion…fact). Neither one of those signs made it on TV which makes me almost as sad as losing the game. Almost.

This NFL season has been, for lack of a better word, crazy. There have been upsets and disappointments balanced with teams showing the world their newfound potential. And as I said earlier, having been a Chief’s fan for so many years, I can greatly appreciate that…except when that results in a loss in a home opener at Arrowhead…but again, that’s another blog. And here we are in a postseason that few could have predicted.

A lot of people have taken it upon themselves to predict what your future plans are, Jason. It has been plastered all over sports news and social media, right next to footage of your completely understandable reaction to the game against the Bucs. And maybe this is a naive viewpoint, but it’s really none of our damn business. As a fan, it is my job to support. No matter what. For better or for worse, in richer and in poorer, in sickness and in health.

All this to really say one thing…thank you. Not from an Eagle’s fan or a Bearcat’s fan or a native of Cleveland Heights. Not from a shareholder in BWWs or president of the “Flip Flops are for Every Season” fan club. But as a person who has been inspired by your honesty, by your loyalty, and by your dedication and hard work. Thanks to you, I have a renewed love of family, a new admiration for the city of brotherly love, and have added Guy Clark to my playlists. I think I speak for a large portion of the Chief’s Kingdom when I say that no matter what you ever decide, you will always have our admiration and respect, and a perpetual open invitation.

Always trust your cape, my friend.