While the Kansas City Chiefs are not participating in Super Bowl LX, Travis Kelce is in San Francisco for numerous events leading up to the big game.

Not only did he and his older brother, Jason Kelce, host The New Heights Party at Thriller Country Club on February 4, but he’s also co-hosting a party in tandem with Tight End University, which he co-founded with George Kittle and Greg Olsen.

Before the “Tight Ends & Friends” event at Public Works on February 5, the three-time Super Bowl champion attended the 15th annual NFL Honors at San Francisco’s Palace of Fine Arts.

The Chiefs have named Kelce the winner of their Walter Payton Man of the Year Award three times, including this year; however, he’s never taken home the national award at the NFL Honors.

GettyTravis Kelce looks to win the national Walter Payton Man of the Year Award for the first time.

Kelce is the only nominee to ever win the Walter Payton Charity Challengethree times. By winning the charity challenge, he rakes in a $35,000 donation to a charity of his choice, Operation Breakthrough Ignition Lab in Kansas City. The winner of the national WPMOY Award brings in an addition $250,000.

Travis Kelce Did Not Win This Year’s Walter Payton Man of the Year Award

Kelce once again faced tough competition for the award that recognizes a player’s excellence off the field. Each team can nominate one player. Amid retirement speculation, Kelce seemed to be a frontrunner.

Last year, Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Arik Armstead took home the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award. This year, the award went to Washington Commanders star Bobby Wagner.

While it’s disappointing news, Kelce was still honored to be the team’s winner. “I have so much love for Kansas City and the Chiefs organization, and to be selected once again means everything to me,” Kelce said in December.

“The opportunity to be involved and help kids through Eighty-Seven & Running and working with Operation Breakthrough as well as Ignition Lab has been such a tremendous experience. Coming from Cleveland Heights and having a strong support system has taught me the importance of having the right people around, that show up for you and want to see you succeed.

“Being able to give back to Kansas City and to my hometown, places that have done so much for me, has been a dream come true, and I’ll never take that for granted. Representing the team, the Hunt family, our fans, and my foundation is incredibly special and I’m very grateful.”

Travis Kelce’s Foundation Committed Over $800,000 to Charities

GettyChiefs tight end Travis Kelce at Arrowhead Stadium on October 12, 2025.

While an investigation into Kelce’s Eight-Seven & Running non-profit drew attention ahead of this year’s NFL Honors, “The 990 forms didn’t tell the full story,” a source told People.

“Over the foundation’s history, Travis has been its primary funder, and expenses supporting charitable programs were categorized under a single line item rather than properly itemized. Additionally, Eighty-Seven & Running has committed $800,000 to the communities it serves over the next three years, which won’t appear in current filings until funds are deployed.”

“If what’s been committed is accounted for, the foundation is at over 80% directed toward charitable causes,” the source added. “The necessary changes to the reporting and operations to ensure this is reflected accurately from now on have already been made.”