SH0CKING!!! Travis Kelce Recalls How His Marijuana Use Affected His NFL Draft

In a candid revelation that has sent shockwaves through the NFL community, Kansas City Chiefs’ superstar tight end Travis Kelce opened up about how a college suspension for marijuana use significantly impacted his 2013 NFL Draft stock. During an April 30, 2025, episode of the New Heights podcast, co-hosted with his brother Jason Kelce, the 35-year-old reflected on the year-long suspension from the University of Cincinnati in 2010, which he believes cost him a higher draft pick. Kelce’s story, marked by embarrassment, redemption, and eventual triumph, underscores the challenges he overcame to become one of the greatest tight ends in NFL history.

A Costly Mistake

Kelce’s troubles began during his sophomore year at Cincinnati, when he tested positive for marijuana ahead of the 2010 Sugar Bowl in New Orleans. The failed drug test, a violation of team rules, led to a full-season suspension in 2010, sidelining him from the Bearcats’ football program. “I was so embarrassed,” Kelce recalled in a 2023 Vanity Fair interview. “I was down in New Orleans, listening to Lil Wayne, and I wanted to smoke what he was smoking. I just wanted to get out of there. I didn’t want to look at anybody.” The suspension was a low point, as Kelce felt he had let down his family, teammates, and the Cincinnati community.

The incident had a profound personal impact. Kelce moved in with his older brother Jason, then a starting left guard for the Bearcats, who became his “keeper” during the suspension. Jason ensured Travis stayed on track with classes and workouts, maintaining his eligibility for a return. “When I got removed from the team, I got my scholarship taken, so I was staying with my brother,” Travis shared on New Heights in 2023. “He kept my hope alive.” Jason’s advocacy was crucial, as he pleaded with coaches, including then-head coach Butch Jones, not to give up on his brother.

The suspension also forced a pivotal career shift. Previously splitting time between quarterback and tight end, Kelce was told upon his return in 2011 that Cincinnati didn’t need a quarterback. “What [the suspension] did was it really kicked me into the tight end room,” Kelce said on the Bussin’ With The Boys podcast in 2023. “It was like, ‘Alright, you can come walk on the team, but we don’t need a quarterback. You can just be an athlete on scout team for a year, we’ll figure it out.’” This transition to tight end proved to be a defining moment, setting the stage for his NFL success.

Draft Day Fallout

Kelce’s suspension left a lasting mark on his draft prospects. After a standout senior year in 2012, where he recorded 45 receptions for 722 yards and eight touchdowns, earning first-team All-Big East honors and the College Football Performance Awards Tight End of the Year, Kelce expected to be a high draft pick. However, the marijuana suspension became a “red flag” for NFL teams, raising concerns about his character and reliability.

During the 2013 NFL Scouting Combine, Kelce faced tough questions, particularly from the Dallas Cowboys, who were seeking depth behind All-Pro tight end Jason Witten. “The Cowboys, they were kind of pressing me about having this red flag of missing a year, smoking weed,” Kelce recalled on New Heights. Frustrated by the scrutiny, Kelce responded bluntly: “If you guys think I’m gonna be that kind of guy or you’re questioning if I’m still that person after everything that I’ve battled through to get to where I am now from missing a season, then you guys probably go somewhere else and pick somebody else.” The interview “ended really fast,” and the Cowboys selected San Diego State’s Gavin Escobar with the 47th overall pick in the second round.

Kelce’s draft stock took a hit, and he fell to the third round, selected 63rd overall by the Kansas City Chiefs. His brother Jason played a critical role, vouching for him to Chiefs head coach Andy Reid, who had coached Jason with the Philadelphia Eagles. “Jason spoke with Reid and vouched that Travis would stay out of trouble if drafted,” according to a Wikipedia entry on Kelce. Reid, familiar with the Kelce family’s work ethic, took a chance on Travis, a decision that would reshape the Chiefs’ franchise.

Jason believes the suspension cost Travis a higher draft position. “You probably got drafted an entire round later than you should have,” he said on the April 30, 2025, New Heights episode. “Everybody who knew you knew you were a great kid. You just had, like, a mess up with weed. Sorry. And then all of a sudden, teams aren’t picking you for it.” Travis, with his trademark humor, teased Jason’s use of the word “marijuana,” saying, “You saying ‘marijuana’ makes it sound so more intense. Why does that word sound so intense?” The lighthearted exchange underscored Kelce’s ability to reflect on the incident without regret.

A Blessing in Disguise

Despite the draft setback, Kelce views the suspension as a pivotal moment that shaped his path. “I made a mistake. I learned from it and grew from it. It’s part of who I am and part of my story,” he said on New Heights. The year away from football instilled discipline and structure, as he adhered to strict guidelines to regain his spot on the team. “I had guidelines I had to go through, and it created routine and structure in my life that I hadn’t taken serious up until that point,” he told The Pivot podcast in January 2025. “Once I found that routine, I began to use that in every aspect of my life.”

The suspension also led Kelce to the tight end position, where he blossomed into a potential Hall of Famer. Since joining the Chiefs, Kelce has amassed 1,004 receptions, 12,151 yards, and 80 touchdowns in 175 games, earning 10 Pro Bowl selections, four first-team All-Pro honors, and three Super Bowl rings (LIV, LVII, LVIII). He holds NFL records for most consecutive and total seasons with 1,000 receiving yards by a tight end (seven) and the most receiving yards by a tight end in a single season (1,416 in 2020). In 2022, he became the fifth tight end to reach 10,000 career receiving yards, doing so faster than any in history.

Kelce’s success has rendered the suspension a mere footnote. “Everything worked out perfectly,” he said on New Heights, reflecting on how the Chiefs’ third-round pick led to a storied career. His 2024 season, with 93 receptions for 1,012 yards, marked his 10th consecutive 1,000-yard campaign, further cementing his legacy. Fans on X echoed this sentiment, with one user posting, “Travis Kelce Reflects on Marijuana Suspension That Changed His Career: ‘Everything Worked Out Perfectly’,” alongside a link to a news story.

Cultural and NFL Context

Kelce’s story highlights evolving attitudes toward marijuana in the NFL. In 2010, his suspension reflected strict collegiate and professional policies, but by 2021, the NFL relaxed its marijuana rules, limiting testing to a single annual check at training camp. Kelce estimated in a 2023 Vanity Fair interview that 50-80% of NFL players use cannabis, noting, “If you just stop in the middle of July, you’re fine. Nobody’s really getting hit for it anymore.” This shift has reduced the stigma, with former players like Ricky Williams and Martellus Bennett openly discussing cannabis use.

The relaxed policy contrasts with Kelce’s experience, where a single positive test nearly derailed his career. Jason humorously suggested on New Heights that players who overcome such setbacks should embrace their past, joking, “You should have just walked into signing your second deal with a blunt in your hand smoking it as a sign of the paper.” Travis clarified, “I’m not condoning smoking weed,” but acknowledged the vindication of proving doubters wrong.

The Cowboys’ Missed Opportunity

The Dallas Cowboys’ decision to pass on Kelce remains a sore point for fans, especially given their selection of Gavin Escobar, who caught just 30 passes in 62 games before exiting the league by 2017. Kelce, by contrast, has redefined the tight end position, with Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes calling him “the best player I’ve thrown to” in a 2023 Vanity Fair story. X posts have resurfaced the story, with one user noting, “Wild: Apparently the #Cowboys did not draft Travis Kelce because of the ‘red flags’ the team had because he smoked weed 🤯,” reflecting ongoing regret among Dallas fans.

A Redemption Story

Travis Kelce’s marijuana suspension was a humbling setback that could have ended his football dreams. Instead, it became a catalyst for growth, leading to a position change, a disciplined mindset, and a Hall of Fame trajectory. His candid reflections on New Heights and other platforms reveal a player who owns his mistakes and celebrates his journey. As the Chiefs aim for another Super Bowl in 2025, Kelce’s story resonates as a testament to resilience, proving that even the biggest missteps can lead to the greatest triumphs.