At a Glance
- Jason and Travis Kelce praised their mom Donna’s cunning gameplay on The Traitors
- Donna, 73, became the show’s first-ever secret Traitor before her elimination in episode 3
- The brothers admitted they didn’t expect her to be so “deceitful and devious”
- Why it matters: A beloved NFL mom showed age is no barrier to reality-TV strategy
Jason and Travis Kelce couldn’t hide their admiration-and surprise-after watching their mom, Donna Kelce, navigate betrayal and secrecy on Peacock’s The Traitors. During the January 14 episode of their New Heights podcast, the brothers dissected Donna’s short but memorable run as the competition’s first covert traitor.
“Way More Deceitful Than I Thought”
Jason, 38, opened with praise:
> “I thought she did fantastic. Like, I know she was eliminated, but it’s really hard to go into those shows as an outsider. You become an easy target to maneuver.”
He quickly shifted to surprise:
> “She was way more deceitful and devious than I thought Mom could ever be, which was surprising.”
Travis, 36, echoed the sentiment:
> “She stood her ground at the round table. I was so proud of her, man. She looked like she was having a blast… it was just so cool to see her in this moment.”
A Traitor’s Debut and Downfall
Key moments from Donna’s game:
- Episode 3 reveal: Donna was unmasked as the inaugural secret Traitor
- Round-table showdown: She argued her innocence before the group vote
- Banishment: The cast sent her home, confirming her undercover role
After her exit, Donna told the camera:
> “Playing a Traitor was tough, but I gave it my best shot. This has been a dream come true. These are happy tears that I get to do this at this point in my life.”
Thanking an Ally
Travis gave a shout-out to contestant Ron Funches:
> “Shout-out to Ron Funches for sticking by her and being kind to her. He probably felt a certain way after he found out she was the secret Traitor.”
He also praised the larger message:
> “Her giving the world a beautiful message about being fortunate enough to do these things at her age and where she is in life-that was awesome.”
Keeping the Mystery Alive
Jason’s wife, Kylie Kelce, recently told News Of Losangeles that Donna offered few spoilers:
> “She did not tell us much at all, which I respect. You’ve got to keep the mystery alive.”
The tight-lipped approach left the family reacting in real time alongside viewers.
Key Takeaways
- Donna Kelce proved a natural at reality-TV deception
- Her sons cherished watching her enjoy a new adventure at 73
- The experience reinforced the idea that age doesn’t limit bold new challenges
