Kansas City Chiefs’ star tight end, Travis Kelce, 35, has credited his signature mustache with helping the team maintain their winning streak over the last few seasons, including multiple Super Bowl victories.
Kelce has embraced his “Andy Reid-inspired” facial hair tradition, growing out the mustache before NFL training camp every year for the past few seasons—a habit that coincided with three Super Bowl wins for the Chiefs, in 2020, 2023, and 2024.
In an interview with People, Kelce explained how the lighthearted tradition began. “I grow out the ‘stache every training camp, or at least I have the past three or four years,
since we’ve been making these title runs, in honor of coach Andy Reid,” Kelce said, noting that other players, including offensive linemen and some skill players, initially joined him in sporting the mustache.
What started as a funny team joke has turned into a superstition for Kelce. The star tight end explained that he feels a “magic” around the mustache, saying, “There’s always magic to the ‘stache. There’s an aura around it, it just brings success.”
With the Chiefs currently boasting a 6-0 start to the 2024 season, Kelce is confident the magic of the mustache will carry the team to a third consecutive Super Bowl victory in February 2025.
Although Kelce often starts the season with just the mustache, it usually transforms into a full, rugged beard by the end of the year. Despite his best efforts, Kelce admits that his facial hair still pales in comparison to that of his legendary coach. “He is the walrus,” Kelce joked, referring to Reid’s iconic look. “He’s got that thing looking beautiful every single day.”
During the 2024 offseason, Kelce temporarily traded his mustache for a well-manicured beard but returned to training camp in July with his signature mustache look. When asked about the facial hair switch-up on his New Heights podcast, Kelce quipped, “Well, I always do the Andy Reid special, baby.”
In addition to his mustache, Kelce recently debuted a new hairstyle at training camp—one that even got approval from global pop star Taylor Swift, with whom he’s been romantically linked. While discussing his longer locks on his podcast, Kelce joked, “I don’t got the buzz cut. I’m not a Super Trooper.” He added that the fresh look made him feel “kind of like a different character” with the mustache.
Despite the style changes, one thing remains constant for Kelce: during training camp, he prioritizes football over aesthetics. “While I’m at training camp, I really don’t care how I look,” Kelce noted. “I just want to be there and try to make it the most enjoyable experience ever.”
With his signature ‘stache in full force and the Chiefs continuing to dominate, Kelce and his magic mustache are set to lead Kansas City on yet another title run.
