How Kelce became #87

Kelce played quarterback in high school at Cleveland Heights High School (Ohio) and switched to tight end at Cincinnati. He wore #18 as a freshman quarterback in 2008, then took #87 when he moved permanently to tight end ahead of his redshirt freshman season in 2010. He kept #87 through his entire Cincinnati career, including the 2012 season when he caught 45 passes for 722 yards and 8 touchdowns and earned All-Big East Conference honors.

The Chiefs drafted Kelce in the 3rd round (#63 overall) of the 2013 NFL Draft. He was assigned #87 as a rookie — the number was available, no other Chief was wearing it, and it matched what Kelce had worn his entire college career. Kansas City made him a starter in his second season (2014) and #87 has been Kelce’s exclusively in the team’s roster ever since.

What #87 has done in Kansas City

Kelce’s #87 has worn the Lombardi Trophy four times — Super Bowl LIV (February 2020), Super Bowl LVII (February 2023), Super Bowl LVIII (February 2024), and Super Bowl LIX (February 2025). He’s an 11-time Pro Bowler, 4-time First-Team All-Pro, and the all-time leader in tight end receptions with 1,000+ catches. His 11,000+ career receiving yards is also the most in NFL history at the position.

Kelce is one of only three tight ends in NFL history with multiple 1,500-yard receiving seasons (he has two — 2020 and 2022). He passed Tony Gonzalez in October 2023 to become the all-time leader in receiving yards by a tight end. The number 87 has become as identified with Kelce as #88 was with Michael Irvin or #80 was with Jerry Rice — three different decades, three different #87s, but Kelce’s the modern leader.

Other notable #87s in NFL history

Kelce shares #87 with several other elite tight ends and receivers in NFL history. Hall of Famer Dave Casper (Oakland Raiders, 1974-83) wore #87 — Casper was an 8-time Pro Bowler and the ‘Ghost’ of the Holy Roller play. Hall of Famer Dwight Clark (49ers, 1979-87) wore #87 and made ‘The Catch’ against the Cowboys in the 1981 NFC Championship.

Other significant #87s: Claude Humphrey (Falcons HoF DE), Jordy Nelson (Packers, 2008-17), Reggie Wayne (Colts, 2001-14, switched from #87 to other numbers in college). The Eagles’ Brent Celek wore #87 from 2007-17. Rob Gronkowski famously wore #87 with the Patriots and Buccaneers — two of the four most-recognized modern #87s (Kelce, Gronk, Clark, Casper) all played tight end.

Background facts cross-referenced with the Wikipedia article on Travis Kelce and Pro-Football-Reference / Basketball-Reference public records.