New Heights with Jason & Travis Kelce

Episode 165: Franchise Records, Sanders NFL Debut, Taco Domination and We’re Going “Belly Bucking”
Date: November 19, 2025
Podcast Host: Wondery

Overview

In this energizing episode, Jason and Travis Kelce return with their trademark blend of football insight and brotherly banter. They cover Week 11’s most compelling NFL moments, personal record-breaking milestones, spicy NFL controversies (including “Spitgate”), and lighter conversations about tacos, tailgates, and belly bucking competitions. The Kelces don’t shy away from candid analysis of their teams—the Chiefs and Eagles—and offer entertaining takes on NFL personalities, locker room energy, and everything from game-day stats to pineapple on tacos.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Show Updates and Upcoming Events

• Podcast Recognition: The brothers celebrate their Taylor Swift episode being named a top podcast episode by Apple.
  • “[Our Taylor episode] was named one of the best podcast episodes of 2020. One of them. What the are we talking about? ... There’s nothing that’s even fucking coming close to that.” —Travis (01:41)
• Upcoming Content:
  • Heights Hotline Hot Takes bonus episode dropping Friday.
  • Guest conversation with Erin Andrews & Carissa Thompson coming Monday.
• New Heights Tailgate Announcement:
  • Black Friday, Philadelphia – all are invited to a tailgate at the Link, complete with food, merch, field goal competition alternatives, and a “belly bucking” tournament.
  • “I want a belly bucking competition at the New Heights tailgate. That’s what I want.” —Travis (03:37)

2. Chiefs vs. Broncos Recap & Franchise Record

• Chiefs’ Frustrating Loss & Path Forward:
  • Jason voices exasperation over Chiefs’ 5-5 record, emphasizing discipline, accountability, and a team-first mentality.
    • “[I] haven’t been in this situation in a long, long time ... It’s just got to be about this team, about the guy next to you, and you gotta have fun doing it.” —Jason (07:23)
• Travis Sets Franchise Record:
  • Travis becomes the Chiefs’ all-time leader in receptions, yards, and touchdowns.
    • “This is a huge accomplishment and a testament to the career you’ve had in Kansas City ... You’re the one guy at the top of that organization for an entire career in multiple categories.” —Jason (10:09)
  • Travis expresses pride but wishes for more team success.
    • “I’m just a product of my environment and, and I love Kansas City for it. And let’s, let’s go ahead and keep adding to that fucking record, baby.” —Travis (11:31)
• Analysis:
  • Statistically, the Chiefs’ 2025 team is stronger than 2024 offensively and defensively—but they're not closing late, especially in one-score games.
    • “2024, 11 and 0 in one score games. 2025, 0–5 ... Winning is a skill.” —Jason (13:09)
  • The brothers discuss the crucial importance of communication and execution in late-game moments (15:17).
  • Tyreek Hill (“Cheetah”) congratulating Travis on his achievement is noted as a highlight (16:30).

3. Eagles vs. Lions Recap: Defensive Brilliance

• Eagles’ Defensive Masterclass:
  • Travis celebrates the Eagles’ defense as “playing unbelievable right now... at every single level.”
    • “Jordan Davis and Jalen Carter were playing volleyball out there, batting down passes left and right.” —Travis (22:21)
  • Five batted passes led to turnovers, helping stifle a powerful Lions offense.
• Lions’ Toughness and Missed Opportunities:
  • The Lions’ failure on five 4th-down attempts, despite their usual strength in those situations, was decisive (24:00).
• Eagles’ Offensive Concerns:
  • Jason and Travis discuss the Eagles’ struggles to recreate their dominant ground game.
    • “The number one difference is that we can’t run the football. We’re not running it at a consistent, successful rate.” —Jason (28:17)
  • Lane Johnson’s injury and its historic impact on the offense is highlighted (27:59).
• Big NFC Showdowns:
  • Jason names Eagles-Cowboys and Rams-Seahawks as must-watch upcoming games (30:03).

4. NFL Highlights & Storylines

• Jameis Winston’s Return (“The NFL is Better When Jameis is Starting”)
  • The brothers revel in Jameis Winston’s pregame energy, hilarious personality, and “surgical execution” promise.
    • “NFL is just better when Jameis is starting, man. It is.” —Travis (38:52)
• Taco Domination Debate (39:04)
  • The show takes a playful turn exploring “taco dominance” etiquette and the best taco varieties.
    • “No matter which way I turn the taco, I’m still eating that. Therefore I am the dominant one.” —Travis (39:53)
    • “If it’s like a street taco, I’m with it ... I’m very pro pineapple.” —Travis (41:22)
• Spitgate Part 2
  • The NFL’s spitting controversies, player code, and appropriate responses are discussed with their usual wit.
    • “Dude, that’s just, like, such a disrespectful, disgusting thing to do. I don’t like that this has now become a thing. I think that we need to do our best as NFL players to not continue this trend.” —Travis (44:08)
• Other Games & Standouts
  • Bills thump the Bucs (44:00).
  • Rams-Seahawks: Defensive slugfest, with the Rams as Jason’s NFC sleeper (45:24).
  • Shedeur Sanders’ NFL debut after Gabriel’s concussion protocol.

5. Stamps of the Week (46:25)

Darnell Washington, Pittsburgh Steelers

• Jason: “He’s stiff-arming three defenders in a row, man ... You love how the guy plays football, man.” —Jason (46:56)
• Travis: “He is a Steeler. When you think of a Steeler, you think of a guy that’s going to physically get after people.” —Travis (47:08)

Mark Andrews, Baltimore Ravens

• Travis: “For executing the fake tush push in epic fashion. Everybody’s like, ‘Oh, the tush push isn’t a football play...’ Well check out my man Mark Edge. Little misdirection, opens the opposite way, swings out to the right side of the line and into the end zone. They fucking won the game on a fake tush push.” —Travis (47:47)
• Jason: “Mark Andrews, the way he spun out of there, looks like he’s ran a little bit of triple option in his day, right?” —Jason (48:15)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Belly Bucking Competition plans:
  • “Basically sumo wrestling but you’re only allowed to use your belly.” —Travis (04:01)
• Self-Accountability in Football:
  • “You gotta kick that aside and you gotta think about how you’re going to attack the day, and you gotta put all the selfish... things that you want for yourself aside, and it’s just gotta be about this team, about the guy next to you, and you gotta have fun doing it, man.” —Jason (07:32)
• Perspective on Franchise Records:
  • “When you come into work with the right mindset and the right attitude and you got a really good coach and a really good quarterback and you stay long enough, they don’t fire you for 13 years, man, you start to pile up some stats.” —Travis (11:31)
• Taco Domination:
  • “I’ll dominate the taco by devouring the taco.” —Jason (39:50)

Timestamps for Major Segments

• New Heights Tailgate & Belly Bucking: 02:39–05:37
• Chiefs-Broncos Recap & Franchise Records: 06:58–13:10
• Eagles-Lions Recap & NFC Standings: 22:05–31:00
• Jameis Winston’s Return & Taco Discussion: 37:16–41:22
• Spitgate & NFL Locker Room Code: 42:55–44:08
• Stamps of the Week: 46:25–48:33

Final Thoughts

Jason and Travis bring trademark honesty, fandom, and fun to this packed episode, weaving together deep football analysis, locker room stories, on-field milestones, and the random-but-relatable (taco technique wars, pineapple advocacy, and the mysterious rise of "Spitgate"). The episode is a must-listen—or, for non-listeners, a must-read recap—for anyone who wants to keep up on NFL action, player mentality, and the most entertaining set of brothers in sports media.