Travis Kelce shares with the ‘Workaholics’ cast what one of his pre-NFL jobs was: “I was the worst”
On a recent episode of New Heights, the Kelce brothers met with the cast of “Workaholics”, with Travis revealing he was much worse at his previous job.
Before becoming one of the NFL’s biggest stars, Travis Kelce had a regular job like everyone else, and by his own admission, he wasn’t very good at it.
During a recent episode of the New Heights podcast, which he co-hosts with his brother Jason Kelce, the Kansas City Chiefs tight end was joined by the cast of Workaholics - Adam DeVine, Blake Anderson and Anders Holm.
As the group discussed telemarketing, famously the job held by the characters in the show, Kelce revealed he had done the same kind of work before his football career took off.
“I was the worst” at telemarketing
Kelce didn’t sugarcoat his experience.
“Yes. I was the worst,” he said, after the group brought up telemarketing backgrounds. He went on to explain the type of work he was doing at the time, adding, “I was slinging surveys for Obamacare.”
The job proved especially difficult given the region he was calling.
“Trav was up against a very difficult test. He was doing Obama surveys in southern Ohio,” Jason noted, highlighting the challenge of the assignment.
Kelce admitted he struggled badly compared to others in the role.
“I was getting paid by the hour and I was like the bottom of the charts right in terms of how many calls and surveys I was getting,” he said. “I was like, man, I am low on this list.”
At one point, Kelce joked about just how disengaged he became during the job.
“It got to the point where I would just call and I wouldn’t say anything if they answer,” he said.
Instead, he would let the automated system keep dialing while he did the bare minimum to get through his shift.
“You just need the time and I just need to call,” he added.
Reflecting on that period, Kelce summed it up bluntly. “Shitty employee. All right. It was a shitty time in my life.”
Adam DeVine had the opposite experience
While Kelce struggled, Adam DeVine thrived in the same industry.
“I did it for years,” DeVine said. “I started when I was 16… I was working for the Marriott actually.”
Selling vacation packages over the phone, DeVine quickly rose through the ranks.
“I was so good. I was like the number two guy in the company… I was clearing 10 grand a month and I was like 19 years old.”
The success nearly changed his career path entirely.
“I told my mom… I think I’m just going to be a telemarketer,” DeVine said, before recalling that she pushed him to pursue acting instead.
From telemarketing to NFL superstardom
Long before becoming a Super Bowl champion and one of the most recognizable faces in football, Travis Kelce was struggling through telemarketing shifts, ranking near the bottom of the leaderboard and counting down the hours.
It’s a far cry from where he is now, but as Kelce’s story shows, not every path to stardom starts with success.
Related stories
Get closer to the game! Whether you like your soccer of the European variety or that on this side of the pond, our AS USA app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more. Plus, stay updated on NFL, NBA and all other big sports stories as well as the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.
And there’s more: check out our TikTok and Instagram reels for bite-sized visual takes on all the biggest soccer news and insights.
Complete your personal details to comment