Ed Kelce Used to Take a Second Job During the Holidays to Pay for Presents for Jason and Travis: ‘The Ultimate Dad’

The siblings recalled their childhood during a mini episode of their ‘New Heights: Heights Hotline’ podcast on Wondery+

Jason Kelce and Travis Kelce still remember the sacrifices their father Ed Kelce made each year in order for them to have great Christmases as kids.

In a Wednesday, Dec. 18 episode of New Heights: Heights Hotline on Wondery+, a bonus aftershow to their official podcast, the siblings reflected on life before fame, when their dad would have to take on more work to brighten the holidays.

During the episode, the brothers took a question from a caller named “Squirrel,” who inquired if Jason, 37, and Travis, 35, ever did any “snooping around the house” ahead of Christmas to find out where “Santa” hid the gifts.

Before answering, the Kansas City Chiefs tight end advised anyone under the age of 12 to not listen to the episode, in order to prevent young ears from learning that “Santa” is typically a parent.

The brothers admitted to finding several gifts around the house before Christmas Day in their youth, with Jason saying it was usually Travis who made the discoveries.

Me and Jason both knew where Santa was hiding those presents,” Travis said, to which Jason added, “No we did not. I did not find out ‘till later when you convinced me.”

Moving on after a bit of back-and-forth, the retired Philadelphia Eagles center said, “We’ve talked about this a little before, our dad used to take a second job around the holidays at a candy store.”

“See’s [Candies],” the brothers said simultaneously.

Travis remembered peanut brittle that would “get stuck in your teeth for decades.”

“So, dad would take the second job in order to buy gifts for Travis and I because he needed more money around the holidays to buy the gifts that Travis and I were asking for,” Jason said, calling him “the ultimate dad.”

“Travis and I were really into the Xbox one year. We wanted the new one, and we decided to go up into the attic and search around and ended up finding it,” he continued, saying he and his younger brother agreed “we’re gonna act surprised” on Christmas Day.