By Amy Tennery
PHOENIX (Reuters) – As celebrities descended on Phoenix this week ahead of Super Bowl 57, a brand new A-lister emerged that few had heard of before: Donna Kelce.
The mother of Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce and Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce will see her sons make history on Sunday when they become the first brothers to play each other in the NFL championship game.
But first she is going through the Super Bowl’s exhaustive news cycle, dressed in her now-famous combination Eagles-Chiefs jersey.
She strode into the Opening Night media mega event with fresh-baked cookies on Monday to wild applause before taking the mic at Roger Goodell’s annual press conference days later, asking the NFL commissioner to appear on her sons’ podcast.
Behind her runs a trail of breathless photographers, eager to catch a glimpse of the retiree from Orlando, who could very well be the most popular woman in Phoenix this week.
“You can’t tell my mom anything right now – she’s an absolute superstar,” said Travis Kelce, 33, the eight-time Pro Bowler who helped the Chiefs hoist the Lombardi Trophy three years ago.
“I just appreciate everybody kind of jumping on the train and letting her have as much fun as she’s been having because it’s been cool to see her in that light.”
More than 180,000 signatures were signed to a Change.org petition as of Wednesday evening, demanding that Donna be allowed to make the coin toss on Super Bowl Sunday, and she signed a promotional deal with KIND Snacks.
There have also been appearances on poplar news programs – from the Today show to Morning Joe.
It is the little surprise then that the former banker with poise under the spotlight has a degree in communications, after becoming the first in her family to graduate from college.
Donna has likened seeing her two sons in the Super Bowl to winning the lottery, with a career in professional sports a wild gamble for even the most gifted athlete.
“I knew you guys were talented, I knew you had the perseverance, I knew that you would be able to, it’s just you don’t know how your children will relate nationally,” she said on the Kelce brothers’ “New Heights” podcast.
“It worked out that everything aligned just perfectly on how you were able to play, get on the field, show your talents.”
(Reporting by Amy Tennery, additional reporting by Rory Carroll; Editing by Toby Davis)
