Former Cleveland Heights High School football coach Jeff Rotsky said he is proud of the way that former Tiger Travis Kelce has worked to become an NFL standout.
A star at the University of Cincinnati and third-round draft pick of the Kansas City Chiefs, he is an 11-time Pro Bowler and four-time All-Pro over his 13 seasons in the NFL.
But what really has Rotsky beaming with joy is the “tikkun olam (he has) done in the world, in Cleveland and in Kansas City.”
“He’ll be a first-ballot hall of famer and, I know I’m biased, but he’s the best tight end to ever play the game,” Rotsky told the Cleveland Jewish News. “But, what he’s done with his charities and foundations has been unbelievable. Trav went through an incredible maturation process from high school and college. Seeing his growth, and how happy he is, I couldn’t be more proud.”
Rotsky is the head coach at Villa Angela-St. Joseph in Cleveland and has also coached at St. Peter Chanel in Bedford, Maple Heights and Euclid.
For the third-straight year, Rotsky and some of his former players traveled to Kansas City to watch a game. Kelce, a tight end with the Chiefs, played quarterback during his senior year for Rotsky. And while the Chiefs dropped a 16-13 decision to the Los Angeles Chargers in Arrowhead Stadium on Dec. 14, he said it was a fun experience.
“Fortunately, we (Villa Angela-St. Joseph) were playing ourselves late in the year (in the playoffs), so this was one of the last home games we’d have the chance to go see him,” Rotsky said. “Unfortunately, they lost the game, but Travis almost helped lead them back on that last drive with three catches. He played really well, and I’m incredibly proud of him.”
Kelce drew plenty of attention from NFL commentators last season for not putting up his usual high-tier statistics, and several reporters questioned if it was time to retire. But Rotsky knew better.
“Everybody counted him out,” he said. “I was very angry at a lot of the professional commentary. I suggested that everybody wait because this kid was going to work his tail off. He came back this year and has had some amazing games. Even this past weekend, (with the Chiefs starting a third-string quarterback due to injuries), he again almost brought them back on the final drive.”
Rotsky said it was also nice to meet back up with several members of the Kelce family, including Jason Kelce, a retired center who spent 13 seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles. The two brothers host a podcast, “New Heights,” the name a nod to Cleveland Heights, where they discuss sports news and their personal lives while occasionally bringing on athletes and celebrities as special guests. It was the No. 1 podcast on Spotify in 2025.
Entertainment has become a big part of Kelce’s world in recent years. In addition to his podcasting duties, he is the host of “Are You Smarter than a Celebrity?” on Amazon Prime and made a cameo in “Happy Gilmore 2.” In 2023, he began dating Taylor Swift, the highest-grossing live music artist of all time, and his relationship with the star has received much attention across the globe, and the two got engaged in August.
“I’m excited for him to become a husband,” Rotsky said. “There’s very few people in the world that could handle the limelight the way he does. And Taylor is the kindest young lady. I’ve only met her three times, but she is so humble, nice, wonderful and just an amazing person. Seeing how happy they are together makes me very happy because they each incredibly support the other and what they do.”
Rotsky said the two make a perfect pair because not too many in the world can handle what each does.
“God works in amazing ways putting people together,” he said. “They’re beautiful together and we can only pray that they will have an unbelievable life together and continue to thrive.”
Rumors have swirled throughout the year about if it will be Kelce’s last season in the NFL and if he may retire in the offseason. Rotsky said he doesn’t have any information on that, but said he himself would “love to see him play another year.”
“He obviously proved he can still play,” Rotsky said. “I’d love to see him play another year and make a run with everybody healthy on that team. But if not, he’s going to be an incredibly successful man, he already is. You will see him in movies, in my opinion. Travis will be successful at whatever he chooses to put his mind to.”
This article first appeared in the Cleveland Jewish News/cjn.org. Reprinted with permission.