Travis Kelce Praises Parents for Teaching Him Kindness: ‘My Father Would Slap Me Silly If I Was Any Other Way’

“I’ve found that being kind and being genuine and being who I am and true to that, it’s the right way to live,” Kelce said of his friendly personality

Travis Kelce says his friendly personality is thanks to his parents, Donna and Ed Kelce.

Kelce, 34, spoke to reporters during a media availability at the Kansas City Chiefs minicamp on Tuesday, June 11, where he was asked about David Njoku’s recent comment that the tight end is “one of the nicest individuals” he’d ever met.

Kelce competed in and won Njoku’s Celebrity Softball charity game in Eastlake, Ohio, on Saturday, June 8.

The Chiefs star’s face lit up at the mention of Njoku, 27, who currently plays for the Cleveland Browns. “He’s one of a kind, man, and I’m so excited for his upcoming season,” Kelce said of his friend (and fellow NFL tight end) before crediting his Donna and Ed with raising him to be so kind.

“I appreciate him saying those kind words but, you know, I like to say my father would slap me silly if I was any other way,” Kelce said of the compliment.

“Sometimes you just gotta straighten up and do the right things,” the tight end continued. “And I think over the course of my life, I’ve found that being kind and being genuine and being who I am and true to that, it’s the right way to live.”