The University of Cincinnati played football before the Kelces.
Quarterback Greg Cook was a first-round draft pick. So was defensive tackle Bob Bell. Cook was the AFL Rookie of the Year in 1969 and defensive tackle Ron Kostelnik won five championship rings with the Green Bay Packers that decade. Jim O’Brien kicked a 32-yard field goal with five seconds remaining to give the Baltimore Colts a 16-13 victory over the Dallas Cowboys in Super Bowl V.
But it was the Kelces – Jason and Travis — who have brought Bearcat football to the NFL’s center stage.
The brothers were teammates on the 2009 University Cincinnati team that went 12-1 and finished eighth in the final Associated Press poll, losing out on a perfect season with a Sugar Bowl loss to Florida. Jason Kelce started all 13 games at left guard that season and Travis caught one pass as a reserve tight end.
Jason became a sixth-round pick of the Philadelphia Eagles in 2011 and Travis a third-round pick of the Kansas City Chiefs in 2013. Since then the brothers have combined for 12 Pro Bowl selections and two Super Bowl rings.
Jason became a walk-in starter for the Eagles in 2011 and went to the first of his five Pro Bowls in 2014. He did not go to the Pro Bowl in 2017 or 2018 but was voted first-team all-pro both seasons. He won his Super Bowl ring in 2018.
Travis’ rookie season in 2013 ended after one game with a knee injury but he moved into the starting lineup in 2014. He went to the first of his seven consecutive Pro Bowls in 2015 and posted 100-catch seasons in both 2018 and 2020. He won his Super Bowl ring in 2020.
So pencil in the Kelces plus their 2009 Cincinnati teammates Derek Wolfe and Mike Windt on the school’s all-time NFL team.
Here is that team:
QB—Greg Cook, 1969 NFL Rookie of the Year
HB—Ray Nolting, 2 Pro Bowls, 8 seasons, 2,285 yards, 10 touchdowns
FB—Rod Phillips, 6 seasons, 595 yards, 3 touchdowns
WR—Joe Morrison, 14 seasons, 395 receptions, 65 touchdowns
WR—Elbie Nickel, 3 Pro Bowls, 11 seasons, 329 receptions, 27 TDs
*-TE—Travis Kelce, 7 Pro Bowls, Super Bowl ring
T—Jason Fabini, 11 seasons, 129 starts
T—Jeff Dellenbach, 6 seasons, 36 starts
G—Bill Feldhaus, 4 seasons (1930s), 32 starts
G—Gene Gossage, 3 seasons, 22 starts
*-C—Jason Kelce, 5 Pro Bowls, 12 seasons, 167 starts, Super Bowl ring
DE—Connor Barwin, Pro Bowl, 10 seasons, 56 1/2sacks
DE—Derek Wolfe, 9 seasons, 34 sacks
DT—Bob Bell, 8 seasons, 28 sacks
DT—Ron Kostelnik, 9 seasons, 17 sacks, five championship rings
OLB—George Jamison, 12 seasons, 21 takeaways, 20 ½ sacks
MLB—Alex Gordon, 7 seasons, 46 starts, 12 sacks
OLB—Trent Cole, 12 seasons, 90 ½ sacks
CB—Artrell Hawkins, 9 seasons, 11 interceptions
CB—Al Nelson, 9 seasons, 13 interceptions
S—Brig Owens, 12 seasons, 36 interceptions, 5 touchdowns
S—Sam Garnes, 7 seasons, 10 interceptions
K—Rich Karlis, 9 seasons, 172 field goals, 799 points
*-P—Kevin Huber, Pro Bowl, 14 seasons, 45.3-yard average
KR—Antonio Chatman, 229 returns, 2,809 yards, TD
ST—Reggie Harrison, blocked a punt in a Super Bowl
DS—Mike Windt, 9 seasons, 133 games
*–Still active
