Before he became an NFL superstar, Travis Kelce poured his heart out to the Cleveland Browns, begging to be drafted by his hometown team — a plea filled with tears, passion, and a declaration that he would “f–king die for this city.”

Long before he became a three-time Super Bowl champion, a ten-time Pro Bowler, and one of the most recognizable faces in the NFL, Travis Kelce was just a kid from Cleveland Heights with a dream — to wear the orange and brown of his hometown team.

In the spring of 2013, that dream nearly became a reality, and if the moment had gone differently, football history might have taken a whole new turn.

Kelce, then a standout tight end at the University of Cincinnati, entered the NFL Draft process with momentum. Scouts saw his size, speed, and playmaking ability as rare for the position, though his college career had been turbulent.

He’d overcome a suspension early in his time at Cincinnati and rebuilt his reputation through standout performances. When the pre-draft visits rolled around, there was one destination he wanted above all others: Berea, Ohio, the home of the Cleveland Browns.

During his official meeting with Browns head coach Rob Chudzinski, Kelce didn’t hold back. Sitting in the coach’s office, surrounded by the smell of fresh turf and the weight of decades of Cleveland football history, the 23-year-old prospect made an emotional pitch.

“I cried in \[Chudzinski’s] office and said, ‘I will f–king die for this city!’” Kelce recalled in a recent interview with *GQ*.

“I literally was in tears. I said, ‘I’m sorry I’m getting emotional. I grew up down the street. I would f–king do anything to play for the Cleveland Browns.’ He looked at me like I was insane. I don’t think he’d ever had somebody just pour out their emotions.”

Kelce’s connection to the city was deep. Born and raised in Cleveland Heights, he’d been a multi-sport star at Cleveland Heights High School before committing to the University of Cincinnati, where his brother Jason — now a retired Super Bowl champion with the Philadelphia Eagles — was already making a name for himself.

Sundays in the Kelce household had always revolved around Browns football, even through years of heartbreak.

That April, Kelce waited for his phone to ring, hoping the Browns would make the call. Instead, with the sixth overall pick, Cleveland selected LSU linebacker Barkevious Mingo.

Later, in the third round, they added San Diego State cornerback Leon McFadden. Both players would have modest NFL careers — Mingo earning a Super Bowl ring as a backup with the 2016 Patriots, and McFadden bouncing between several teams without a Pro Bowl nod.

Kelce’s phone did ring in the third round — but it wasn’t Cleveland. The Kansas City Chiefs took him with the 63rd overall pick, pairing him with new head coach Andy Reid and a rebuilding roster. It was the start of a career that would redefine the tight end position.

Over the next twelve seasons, Kelce became a central figure in the Chiefs’ dynasty. Teaming up with quarterback Patrick Mahomes, he developed into one of the most dangerous offensive weapons in the league.

His resume grew to include ten Pro Bowl selections, four First-Team All-Pro honors, and three Lombardi Trophies. His combination of route-running precision, physical toughness, and charisma on and off the field made him not just a star, but a cultural icon.

For Browns fans, the “what if” lingers. Would Kelce’s presence have changed the trajectory of a franchise that spent much of the 2010s in turmoil? Could the hometown hero have been the catalyst for a revival?

Or would Cleveland’s instability during those years have squandered his potential?

Kelce himself admits he’s thought about it over the years, though without bitterness. “I wanted it so bad at the time,” he’s said in past interviews.

“But looking back, I’m grateful for where I ended up. I’ve been able to be part of something special here in Kansas City. Still, Cleveland will always be in my heart.”

Now 35 and entering his 13th NFL season, Kelce is still chasing greatness. Just months ago, he endured one of the toughest losses of his career — a blowout defeat to the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl 2025.

His brother Jason, then recently retired, was on the broadcast team, adding another emotional wrinkle to the night. But Kelce insists he’s put it behind him.

“I’ve thrown that thing in the trash,” he told reporters last week. “I’ve moved on. It happened sooner than you can imagine. I was pretty focused on this year in the offseason.”

Off the field, Kelce’s profile has grown beyond football. He’s co-hosted the hit “New Heights” podcast with Jason, appeared on *Saturday Night Live*, and even found himself in celebrity headlines thanks to a high-profile relationship with pop superstar Taylor Swift.

Yet for all the glitz and glamour, those who know him say the kid from Cleveland Heights is still there — fiercely loyal, deeply competitive, and always willing to speak from the heart.

The Browns, meanwhile, have built a competitive roster in recent years, but the thought of Kelce lining up in FirstEnergy Stadium remains a tantalizing fantasy for many in Northeast Ohio.

In an alternate universe, perhaps he’s wearing number 87 in orange and brown, catching passes from a Browns quarterback, and chasing a Super Bowl for his hometown.

But in reality, Kelce’s tears in that office in 2013 were the start of something else — not the beginning of a career in Cleveland, but the first chapter in a story that would take him hundreds of miles away, where he would become not just a champion, but a legend.

And maybe, deep down, Rob Chudzinski still remembers that day — the young man with fire in his eyes, willing to “die for this city,” who instead went on to make history somewhere else.