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Travis Kelce’s Change in Physical Appearance Draws Attention
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- Travis Kelce’s Change in Physical Appearance Draws Attention
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce became one of the most popular NFL players of his generation not just because of his on-field accomplishments , but his ever-changing style as well.
While he collected three Super Bowl rings and countless receiving records over the past 13 seasons, Kelce did so with more hairstyles than a Hollywood actor. Of course, he is one of those, too.
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As Kelce prepared for what could be the final game of his football career against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday — his contract expires at the end of the season, prompting a potential retirement decision — fans on social media reminisced over some of his looks throughout the years.
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) arrives before the game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium.Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
After cleaning up the scruffy, bearded appearance he had when he started playing college football for the Cincinnati Bearcats, Kelce generally established a cleaner look in the NFL.
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He is well-known for embracing one of his many alter egos , "El Travador," at Chiefs training camp over the years. It typically includes a shorter hair cut and a signature mustache during the summer heat.
From perfectly coiffed hair featured on his infamous reality show "Catching Kelce" in 2016 to playoff beards during the Super Bowl runs of the 2020s, the 36-year-old's appearance has gone through more eras than a Taylor Swift concert.
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Here is one image that encapsulated it all and drew attention on X on Sunday.
The post generated more than 25,000 views and 100 reposts, including a number of Kelce fans who were voting for the local Kansas City hero to win the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Charity Challenge.
While Sunday was a particularly sentimental occasion because of the possibility of Kelce's final game, it was not the first time his change in appearance throughout his career has generated buzz online.
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His short-lived goatee in 2020 was a fan favorite in the comments section of a throwback Chiefs post before the 2025 season.
Related: Travis Kelce Off-Field Update Emerges Before Chiefs Game
Related: Chiefs TE Travis Kelce Earns New Nickname Amid 13th NFL Season
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Jan 4, 2026, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
