NFL legends Travis and Jason Kelce reveal Croatian heritage
- by croatiaweek
- in Sport
Travis and Jason Kelce (Screenshot/New Heights podcast)
Caitlin Clark, the WNBA superstar, recently shared her love for Croatia during an appearance on the popular New Heights podcast hosted by NFL stars and brothers Travis and Jason Kelce.
When asked to choose between Italy and Croatia, Clark didn’t hesitate.
“Croatia is awesome. It is great,” she said enthusiastically. “I went to Split and Dubrovnik. It’s awesome, and I tell people if you go to one place overseas, it has to be the spot. It’s clean, the water is beautiful, there are things to do, and the food is great.”
The Kelce brothers were thrilled by Clark’s praise, as they had recently discovered their own Croatian heritage. “We found out recently we are Croatian. We didn’t even know. That’s why I was so excited when you said Croatia” the Kelce brothers said.
“Yes, I got some (Croatian) blood,” Travis said (see video below).
The brothers, who grew up in Ohio, were raised in an area with a significant Croatian community.
Steve Rukavina, co-founder of the National Federation of Croatian Americans Cultural Foundation, told Večernji list that their maternal great-grandmother, Marie, was the daughter of Croatian parents George Stajduhar and Mary Jurkovich. Travis and Jason’s maternal grandmother, Ina Marie Petranek, was also of Croatian descent.
Travis, a Kansas City Chiefs star and one of the greatest tight ends of all time, has also gained widespread fame for his relationship with singer Taylor Swift.
His older brother, Jason, played as a center for the Philadelphia Eagles for 13 seasons and is often regarded as one of the greatest centers in NFL history.
Croatia clearly left an impression on Caitlin Clark and sparked newfound pride in the Kelce brothers. Check out the video clip below.
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