“These words mean more than you know”: How Travis Kelce repaid former Kansas City Chiefs veteran Dwayne Bowe years after learning what it means to be a great teammate
Travis Kelce has given former Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Dwayne Bowe a reason to remember their connection. Bowe helped Kelce understand what it takes to be a good teammate during his early NFL years. More than a decade later, Kelce returned that kindness with a personal gift. In September 2026, he gave Bowe the jersey he wore in the Chiefs’ Week 2 win over the Indianapolis Colts .
Bowe had attended the game, and the gift meant more because of their history together. Kelce later spoke about his former teammate on the New Heights podcast , recalling how Bowe influenced him both inside the locker room and on the field. His words also explained why he was so happy to see the former Chiefs receiver back at the stadium.
How Dwayne Bowe became a role model for Travis Kelce in Kansas CityBowe arrived in Kansas City as a first-round pick in 2007. By the time the Chiefs drafted Kelce in the third round in 2013, Bowe was already an established player and a respected voice in the offense. Kelce was still finding his place in the NFL, and the veteran gave him an example of how to approach the job.
During a September 2026 episode of the New Heights podcast, Kelce remembered Bowe as one of the leading figures in the Chiefs locker room during his early seasons.
“He was the OG in the locker room and the offense in my early years,” Kelce said.
He also credited Bowe with showing younger players how to carry themselves as professionals.
“Really showed me what it was to be a great teammate. Somebody who just loved the game of football and loved the atmosphere of being a pro and living out your dreams. He instilled that in everybody in the building, man.”
Bowe had earned that respect through his performances as well. He won the Chiefs’ Mack Lee Hill Rookie of the Year award in 2007. His standout season came in 2010, when he caught 72 passes for 1,162 yards and 15 touchdowns. He earned his only Pro Bowl selection that year and made the Second-Team All-Pro roster.
Bowe ended his Chiefs career with 532 receptions, 7,155 receiving yards and 44 touchdowns. Those figures remain among the best in franchise history.
Travis Kelce’s jersey gift brought their old Chiefs bond back into focusTheir connection made headlines again after Bowe attended Kansas City’s Week 2 game against the Indianapolis Colts in September 2026. On September 28, Bowe shared a social media post revealing that Kelce had given him the jersey from the game.
Bowe shared his reaction in the post, writing, “Gr8 B Day 🎁 @tkelce These words mean more than you know. I’ve tried to be the best teammate of our generation.”
Kelce also discussed the gesture on the New Heights podcast. He spoke about the respect Bowe earned from people throughout the Chiefs organization.
“You can’t find a single person on this Earth that has anything bad to say about Dwayne Bowe, and who he was in the building,” Kelce said.
He then shared how he felt about seeing his former teammate return to Chiefs games and ask for his jersey.
“To see him coming back to games still and ask me for a jersey, I’m honored, brother.”
Bowe moved on from Kansas City in 2015 after signing a two-year contract with the Cleveland Browns . He played seven games for Cleveland and caught five passes. He later signed a one-day contract with the Chiefs to retire with the team that drafted him.
Kelce’s gift was a small gesture with a personal history behind it. Bowe had helped him understand the value of being a great teammate when he was still a young player. After years, Kelce used the moment to show that he had never forgotten the lesson.
Bowe had attended the game, and the gift meant more because of their history together. Kelce later spoke about his former teammate on the New Heights podcast , recalling how Bowe influenced him both inside the locker room and on the field. His words also explained why he was so happy to see the former Chiefs receiver back at the stadium.
How Dwayne Bowe became a role model for Travis Kelce in Kansas CityBowe arrived in Kansas City as a first-round pick in 2007. By the time the Chiefs drafted Kelce in the third round in 2013, Bowe was already an established player and a respected voice in the offense. Kelce was still finding his place in the NFL, and the veteran gave him an example of how to approach the job.
During a September 2026 episode of the New Heights podcast, Kelce remembered Bowe as one of the leading figures in the Chiefs locker room during his early seasons.
“He was the OG in the locker room and the offense in my early years,” Kelce said.
He also credited Bowe with showing younger players how to carry themselves as professionals.
“Really showed me what it was to be a great teammate. Somebody who just loved the game of football and loved the atmosphere of being a pro and living out your dreams. He instilled that in everybody in the building, man.”
Bowe had earned that respect through his performances as well. He won the Chiefs’ Mack Lee Hill Rookie of the Year award in 2007. His standout season came in 2010, when he caught 72 passes for 1,162 yards and 15 touchdowns. He earned his only Pro Bowl selection that year and made the Second-Team All-Pro roster.
Bowe ended his Chiefs career with 532 receptions, 7,155 receiving yards and 44 touchdowns. Those figures remain among the best in franchise history.
Travis Kelce’s jersey gift brought their old Chiefs bond back into focusTheir connection made headlines again after Bowe attended Kansas City’s Week 2 game against the Indianapolis Colts in September 2026. On September 28, Bowe shared a social media post revealing that Kelce had given him the jersey from the game.
Bowe shared his reaction in the post, writing, “Gr8 B Day 🎁 @tkelce These words mean more than you know. I’ve tried to be the best teammate of our generation.”
Kelce also discussed the gesture on the New Heights podcast. He spoke about the respect Bowe earned from people throughout the Chiefs organization.
“You can’t find a single person on this Earth that has anything bad to say about Dwayne Bowe, and who he was in the building,” Kelce said.
He then shared how he felt about seeing his former teammate return to Chiefs games and ask for his jersey.
“To see him coming back to games still and ask me for a jersey, I’m honored, brother.”
Bowe moved on from Kansas City in 2015 after signing a two-year contract with the Cleveland Browns . He played seven games for Cleveland and caught five passes. He later signed a one-day contract with the Chiefs to retire with the team that drafted him.
Kelce’s gift was a small gesture with a personal history behind it. Bowe had helped him understand the value of being a great teammate when he was still a young player. After years, Kelce used the moment to show that he had never forgotten the lesson.
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