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Travis Kelsey
Mathis Holm, I think you were. You were one of the most convincing film quarterbacks of all time. One of my favorite movies to watch. Is it true that the Ravens wanted to give you a tryout after this movie?
Keanu Reeves
That's absolutely nonsense.
Travis Kelsey
92 percenters. Welcome back to another edition of New Heights Film Club, brought to you by Reese's Pumpkins this time Dot.
Jason Kelsey
Gosh.
Travis Kelsey
And it's Halloween time. And they got those things.
Keanu Reeves
Things in stores.
Travis Kelsey
We are your host. I'm Travis Kelsey. This is my big brother, Jason Kelsey. We got a fun night for you. Subscribe on YouTube One plus or wherever you get your podcast and follow the show on all social media at new height show with 1s. Jason, tell the people what we got coming up for this episode.
Jason Kelsey
Coming up, we got a little bit of that New Heights Film Club. That's right. And it's a special edition because today we are joined by Keanu Reeves to revisit his 2000 classic film, the Replacements. Enjoy. This is a sports podcast.
Keanu Reeves
All right.
Jason Kelsey
You want to talk about one of your most iconic sports films as well? I mean, obviously, Good Fortune. Good Fortune, which is coming out October 17th for everybody watching.
Travis Kelsey
Everybody go check it out.
Jason Kelsey
But we also want to transition. We do this thing Film club at New Heights. Oh, cool. We wanted to break down a little bit of the Replacements if you're comfortable with that.
Keanu Reeves
Wow.
Jason Kelsey
Does that sound good?
Keanu Reeves
Yeah. Yeah.
Jason Kelsey
So for anybody who hasn't seen it, stop. You're doing. Go watch it. The Replacements is one of the best movies of all time.
Mathis Home Announcer
Where.
Keanu Reeves
Now don't go crazy.
Jason Kelsey
Here's why I love it. I love any sports film that catches the underdog and the idea that they're gonna climb the mountaintop and achieve their dreams. And the Replacements is that film. Right. The. The players have all gone on strike, and now they have to introduce these scab players into the NFL. And the pros are fighting them, and they're. They're trying to bond and put some together some type of product and team.
Keanu Reeves
Yeah.
Jason Kelsey
Shane Falco Leads the whole thing.
Keanu Reeves
So number six, let's go lefty.
Jason Kelsey
That's right.
Travis Kelsey
Yeah.
Jason Kelsey
First of all, I mean, movie came out 25 years ago. When's the last time you've seen it?
Keanu Reeves
Gosh, probably a long time ago. 20. At least 15. 20 years. Yeah.
Travis Kelsey
I feel like it's on. It's on some. It's on a cable channel near you every single week, man. It's one of my, it's one of my favorites. If I see it on the like the TV Guide, I'm putting it on and watching it. One of the craziest things about the movie is. Yeah, the, the players go on strike, so we need to find replacement players. But they loop in the fact that there needs to be replacement cheerleaders too. And what better place to get dancers last minute than the strip club.
Jason Kelsey
Yeah, like they're part of the same union. That's good.
Keanu Reeves
Putting their bodies on the line.
Jason Kelsey
That's right, that's right, that's right.
Travis Kelsey
You got to. Man.
Jason Kelsey
How do you think you did playing a quarterback? How convincing do you think you were as a quarterback in that film?
Keanu Reeves
Well, you know, I. My, my movie quarterback journey started with Point Break.
Jason Kelsey
That's right. Also an Ohio State quarterback.
Keanu Reeves
Yeah, Ohio State Buckeye, both times.
Travis Kelsey
Come on now, baby.
Keanu Reeves
I had nothing to do with. And so I worked with Rick Neuheisel on Point Break. So he. I got some fundamentals. I got a lot of backyard street football experience, but never any organized football. And then I worked with an ex NFL quarterback, TJ Rubley, who was quarterbacking in the 90s. And he kind of, you know, Rick, I did some fundamental stuff. And then with TJ doing a little more, A lot more footwork. And then we had a three week camp and so offense, defense.
Travis Kelsey
No way. You guys did a whole camp.
Keanu Reeves
So we could run some plays. Then they had some ex NFL guys, college guys. We're all, you know, playing football. And I'd never been in a football camp or warm up or you know, lock.
Travis Kelsey
How was that experience?
Keanu Reeves
It's fun. It was fun.
Travis Kelsey
Nice, man.
Keanu Reeves
All the guys are down in can, I swear.
Jason Kelsey
Yeah, of course.
Keanu Reeves
So they're doing. Scooping creatine.
Jason Kelsey
Oh it.
Travis Kelsey
Protein shakes and creatine, baby.
Keanu Reeves
Super clean of 50. And I'm like. Anyway. And then just, you know, know doing two a days was in Baltimore. It was hot. And then just getting used to like, you know, coming to the line and then, you know, what I didn't know about was the relationship between the quarterback and the center.
Jason Kelsey
Oh yeah, baby.
Keanu Reeves
You know, that that's a big one thing. So I, I kind of started getting. It was cool. He was really supportive and he'd call me a Shane. Hey, Falco, don't worry about it. My first break in huddles, I was one or wait, one. I'm like trying to like get my count, you know.
Jason Kelsey
I blew in. Oh, yeah, man.
Keanu Reeves
Hey, you know, here we go.
Travis Kelsey
There it is.
Keanu Reeves
And then. So I love all that walking up under center, getting down there.
Travis Kelsey
There's nothing like it, baby.
Keanu Reeves
But it was cool. I mean, one of the things that was one of the coordinators, guy named Mark Ellis, who had done some other football projects now in graphics. They had run some movie, tv, movie stuff. They've done, you know, they had done this before, taking actors, non playing people and integrating with, you know, pros, ex pros. And. And so we're, you know, we're trying to get to a level where we can run plays and just so that they could film me, like coming up to center, you know, do the call, cadence, whatever. Break, sorry, Break the huddle, come up, you know, do it and run a play. And like week one, I had like a crossing route I had to hit because I also learned about the relationship with the tight end.
Travis Kelsey
Come on.
Jason Kelsey
There we go. David Denham, safety blanket, baby.
Keanu Reeves
So I had the center, tight end thing, you know, like, so I had to hit him on a cross. And I remember one of the things was like the first week I'm just missing. I'm just off and they're all like, all the players, like, don't worry about it. Don't worry. It's cool, man. Week two, week three, I remember we ran the same play. I was late, missed it. No one said a word. We're coming back to the huddle, like, go do it again. No one said.
Jason Kelsey
Nobody was happy.
Keanu Reeves
That's so funny. No one said you could up once.
Travis Kelsey
If you do it twice.
Keanu Reeves
What's up? He's like, they're treating you like a player now. And I'm like, what do you mean? He's like, don't up. They're hot. They don't want to do this anymore. You don't get any more.
Jason Kelsey
You got the full, the full feel of it. I love it.
Keanu Reeves
Didn't say a word.
Travis Kelsey
That's too funny. Ice cold after, after. Incompletion is the worst.
Jason Kelsey
Got the full quarterback treatment right there, man.
Keanu Reeves
Yeah, then. But then I hit some stuff and then we got to play at the, you know, Raven Stadium, you know, it's kind of coming Together. And we got to play during halftime, but we. We filmed in the stadium, which was cool. And then we filmed at halftime, so we got a feel of that. And the guy who was doubling me in quarterback, who could actually play football, Christopher Robbins. He had to. He had. He had to. Do you remember the scene where he has to, like, hike it?
Jason Kelsey
Oh, yeah. Yes.
Keanu Reeves
Do that live, man. He made the throw. It was cool.
Travis Kelsey
That's so dope.
Keanu Reeves
How to, like, catch for the. For the field goal.
Travis Kelsey
Oh, now that's. That's a. That's a talent right there. Holding the snap.
Keanu Reeves
Dude, I'll just say I loved it. I love it.
Jason Kelsey
That's awesome.
Keanu Reeves
I love.
Jason Kelsey
Did you take any actual hits or was this mostly like body doubles and things?
Keanu Reeves
No, they were like, what a couple. Like when we would run plays at full speed.
Jason Kelsey
Yeah.
Keanu Reeves
You know, they would come in and basically they were all like, don't hit the guy for the reason that we're all have a job.
Jason Kelsey
Yeah, exactly. It's a good reason.
Travis Kelsey
I mean, that's very much like the NFL. It's very much like if you touch.
Jason Kelsey
That's exactly what it is.
Keanu Reeves
In practice, don't hit the guy who's helping us get paid.
Jason Kelsey
That's right. That's how it works.
Travis Kelsey
Golden rule, baby.
Keanu Reeves
And then. And so I once ran into somebody. I have a two level Fusion, my neck. And I ran into somebody and got a stinger that scared.
Travis Kelsey
Oh, yeah.
Jason Kelsey
Yeah, man.
Travis Kelsey
Nice, man. You got the full football.
Jason Kelsey
Nothing worse, man. The stingers are the worst.
Travis Kelsey
You got a stinger. Oh, man.
Keanu Reeves
And then I was like, oh, because I have a plate in my neck.
Jason Kelsey
You thought it was like, really messed up.
Keanu Reeves
I was like, oh, that's not funny.
Jason Kelsey
Yeah.
Keanu Reeves
And it was okay. And then I did that dumb thing where you like, they're always saying, like, when you fall with the football, don't put it on your chest.
Jason Kelsey
Oh, yeah.
Travis Kelsey
Knock the wind out of yourself. Yeah. Gasping for air. I think you were. You were one of the most convincing film quarterbacks of all time. It's one of my favorite movies to watch. Is it true that the Ravens wanted to give you a tryout after this?
Keanu Reeves
That's absolutely nonsense. My release would have obviously been. Lefty was like, I don't know why, but we tend to have a lower release. Getting that ball was a little slow, but I could hit like. I mean, it wasn't on a rope, but like. Yeah, do like 50 yard corner or I could, you know, I could hit.
Travis Kelsey
Like, hey, man, you're an athlete.
Keanu Reeves
Hell of a Throw right there, then long seven and go. But don't start believing you can really do it.
Jason Kelsey
Well, listen, I don't know if you saw those 2,000 ravens, but you didn't need to be that good. I mean, I think the opposing teams averaged like 11 points a game or something like that.
Keanu Reeves
We all needed defense.
Jason Kelsey
What was it like working with Gene Hackman? He's like one of the. I mean, obviously Hoosier, like just plays a great coach. The temperament of him, like comes off as this wise, sage person. Loved his and your relationship in the film. What was it like working with him?
Keanu Reeves
Such a gentleman and, you know, hero of mine. When you look at his career, the breadth of roles, like comedy, drama, the filmmakers, it's just so special. And he was really nice to me. He was generous and he was like. We had a good chemistry and basically he was like, no nonsense, no bullshit. Came to work ready to go, new lines, knew what was going on and didn't really suffer. People who weren't doing that. Ye. He had, he had a look. He had a look. He was kind of faced. But he would just be like, sounds.
Jason Kelsey
Like a real coach, man.
Travis Kelsey
Sounds like Andy Reid. Because my coach gives you one look you already know. You better tighten it up, man. Get this thing rocking and rolling.
Keanu Reeves
I remember he had some. Howard Deutsch was the director and you know, there were, you know, Gene Ackman was. Had a hat, you know, kind of doing that thing.
Jason Kelsey
Yeah, the Landry deal.
Keanu Reeves
And he was like, do you want the hat or off the hat? Do you want the hat? And how he's like. He was just like, say it. And I say it anyway. But he was. Yeah, total pro. Total pro. And a gentleman and sweet and you know, another legend who I got to meet there was Jack Warden who played an owner of the team.
Jason Kelsey
Yes, absolutely.
Keanu Reeves
Just legend as well. And I got to say hi to Pat Summerall and Madden. John Madden, yeah, they do commentators in the film. So I went to go see them filming one day and it's cool to me.
Jason Kelsey
Oh, dude.
Travis Kelsey
What was that like? John Madden. I mean that's my like hero, man, that guy. Listening to him call. Football games are my entire childhood. What was that like?
Keanu Reeves
He's a sweetie pie too. Just hey, how's it going? Huge head, hands. I just a big old dude thing and like just. He's kind of quiet and low key, you know, but there. And you know, it was just like you say when you meet those guys who you've grown up with and who did such amazing, you know so cool. You know, our connection to watching them work, you know. Yeah, it was cool.
Travis Kelsey
One of my favorite quotes from this movie, probably one of the all time quotes in sports movies history. Pain heals. Chicks dig scars. Glory lasts forever, boys.
Jason Kelsey
I will say, though, sometimes pain doesn't heal. I'm still dealing with these back issues. I'm still struggling with it, but. Yeah.
Travis Kelsey
That stinger ever catch you when you yawn? You like roll over and yawn. It just kind of fizzles a little bit.
Keanu Reeves
I. I just. I do find I protect my head all the time.
Jason Kelsey
Time.
Travis Kelsey
There you go.
Keanu Reeves
But how many years in do you.
Travis Kelsey
Yeah, I'm 13. Jason played 13. Yeah. But we're feeling like we're. We're 25 right now.
Jason Kelsey
All things considered. We've done pretty. Pretty good for the. From the health. I mean, Travis still going. So I don't knock on wood a little bit.
Keanu Reeves
Yeah. But like, how was it going from the. Because I was looking up kind of like your history a bit and I saw like the early Eagles stuff. Like, you centered with Vick, right?
Jason Kelsey
Yeah. Michael Vick. That was the first quarterback I ever played with, which is.
Travis Kelsey
Oh, yeah.
Jason Kelsey
Crazy.
Keanu Reeves
So, I mean, that's. He put you in. Put the whole team put like that's a modern quarterbacking. That's a whole other thing. Right.
Jason Kelsey
He's a. He's a southpaw too now. He was like. He could his. He could sling it and you would hear that thing whiz. Like you could feel the spin on it coming past your head. Yes. That was. It was crazy how much Mike just like flicking his wrist would put some spin on it. But.
Travis Kelsey
And that's the thing. He did it so effortless. It was like he had a whip on his arm. It was crazy how he could just sling the ball out there and he could throw it a mile and a half.
Jason Kelsey
Yeah. We had this question in here to ask you. It was something about the scab players. It was good. You were going to ask me, Trav, if I was going to be. Oh, gosh. What was it?
Keanu Reeves
Well, you guys had a strike 2 and 11 or something.
Jason Kelsey
Yes. So we had a strike in 2011. That same year.
Travis Kelsey
Yeah.
Jason Kelsey
And Travis, you know, would we be tipping the scab cars if. But I'm like, yeah, I would have been one of the. Dude, I would have been one of the scabs.
Keanu Reeves
Are you kidding?
Jason Kelsey
I was a rookie. I had student loans. I'm trying to pay off. I would have been playing. I'm not going on strike. I hadn't Realized my dream yet?
Travis Kelsey
I was about to say I. I'm. I'm still living my dream. I'm not holding out.
Jason Kelsey
Yeah.
Travis Kelsey
The players union would have fucking hated me.
Jason Kelsey
The movie's so wonderful because it captures a lot of guys. It's so relatable because so many people have tried to make it in sports. And when it came out, I was still at that stage. And like, it's interesting now rewatching it as I'm an older player, having already played in the NFL and looking at it from maybe that lens. But growing up and watching it, I mean, this was like just beyond cool to showcase that kind of mentality and like perseverance in particular with Shane Falco's character. And like, listen, he had a very traumatic experience playing into college and he gets another opportunity. Yeah. You know what I mean? I don't know.
Keanu Reeves
I mean, I think the film actually. I mean, not never playing a game, so I can't say, but it seems like from the outside, like maybe the cliches, but also cliches are kind of created out of what actually happens often.
Travis Kelsey
Yeah.
Jason Kelsey
They're cliches for a reason. Yeah.
Keanu Reeves
Crazy kicker. The linebacker who's just crazy. Yeah. The tight end and the lineman. So I felt like it got some things in a. I'll say Hollywood kind of way, but it.
Travis Kelsey
Oh yeah, yeah. But that's what makes the movie fun, is that if they're all just exaggerated just a little bit to make the. The characters that more appealing.
Keanu Reeves
The replacements 20, 25 years ago.
Jason Kelsey
How crazy.
Travis Kelsey
Still going strong too, baby.
Keanu Reeves
And that was the first film they did after the Matrix.
Jason Kelsey
That was the first film. Talk about a switch up. That's a switch up a genre as it feels for sure.
Travis Kelsey
The rage is crazy, dude.
Jason Kelsey
God damn it. We forgot to get to that. All right, we're going to do it right now. Travis, count of three. We're just going to name who we think is the best comp for Shane Falcon.
Travis Kelsey
There's only one.
Jason Kelsey
I'd be shocked if we don't say the same person. One, two, three. Gardner. Gardner. Minu.
Travis Kelsey
Dude, it's the best. Garden is one of my favorite teammates, man.
Jason Kelsey
Minia, baby.
Travis Kelsey
But you're talking about that. Eat that. Like ecos. Like just like chill, laid back.
Jason Kelsey
Yes.
Travis Kelsey
Vibes are always high. Like good vibes at that.
Jason Kelsey
Falco was living in a boat. Minshu freaking like redid like a bus. And he was living on a bus for a whole off season one time.
Travis Kelsey
The hair.
Keanu Reeves
Hair.
Jason Kelsey
It feels like it's like reincarnation yeah, they're the same person.
Travis Kelsey
Yeah, it's. It's perfect. Shout out to my guy. Guard, man. Let's go, baby.
Jason Kelsey
That wraps up another edition of New Heights Film Club, brought to you by Reese's Pumpkins. Thank you to Keanu Reeves for joining us. Make sure you subscribe to the new Heist channel on YouTube and follow new Heights in the Wonder React or wherever you get your podcast. You can listen to new episodes of New Heights ad free right now by joining Wondering plus in the Wonder app or on Apple podcasts.
Travis Kelsey
Once again, new Heights a wonder show. Follow the show on all social media at new heights show with 1s. And thank you to the New Heights production team and to those 92 percenters. Appreciate you guys very much.
Jason Kelsey
Very much. So much.
Travis Kelsey
We'll see you guys next Wednesday.
Episode: Keanu Reeves revisits "The Replacements" | New Heights Film Club
Release Date: October 17, 2025
Guest: Keanu Reeves
Hosts: Jason Kelce & Travis Kelce
In this special edition of the New Heights Film Club, NFL stars and brothers Jason and Travis Kelce are joined by actor Keanu Reeves to look back on his 2000 football classic, The Replacements. The trio dives deep into behind-the-scenes stories from the set, Keanu's approach to playing quarterback Shane Falco, the film's enduring underdog spirit, and its surprising authenticity about football life. The episode is filled with playful banter, personal football anecdotes, and hilarious moments comparing life as a real NFL player with Hollywood gridiron glory.
The tone is playful, self-aware, and filled with mutual respect. The Kelce brothers' trademark sibling banter mixes with Keanu’s humility and authentic enthusiasm, blending locker-room humor with genuine movie fan energy. There are nods to both modern NFL realities and the larger-than-life magic of sports movies.
Summary prepared for fans and newcomers—listen to get even more laughs, inside stories, and behind-the-scenes football talk!