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Travis Kelce’s weekly Air Jordan tunnel tradition continued Sunday prior to the still-undefeated Kansas City Chiefs’ 16-14 home win over the Denver Broncos.
Ahead of the win, which was the Chiefs’ 15th consecutive victory and pushed their season record to an NFL-best 9-0, Kelce strolled into the stadium wearing a marled red (not-quite-a-cardigan) overshirt by The Elder Statesman, Helmut Lang denim pants and a pair of Air Jordan 10s that haven’t been seen at retail since 2005.
While some outlets have incorrectly identified Kelce’s sneakers as the 2016 Air Jordan 10 “Chicago Flag” release, the star tight end’s shoes were actually much rarer. Kelce dug back a decade further to lace up ’05’s “Red Steel” Air Jordan 10 Retro, a new-look style for the model which combined the striping of the Air Jordan 10’s original 1994 “Steel Gray” colorway with a red hue that’s equally suited for the Chicago Bulls and the Chiefs.
Due to their age, Kelce’s sneakers are the sort of pair that is increasingly hard to track down these days. StockX lists just a small handful of sizes available with asking prices ranging from $376 for a size 13 to $1,468 for a size 10.5. But tracking down the shoes isn’t the only challenge. Their age and materials make the sneakers especially susceptible to deterioration through hydrolysis, a chemical process in which polyurethane midsoles break down and eventually crumble. It’s generally accepted that athletic footwear is at a higher risk of hydrolysis after extended periods of nonuse.
Earlier in the season, during an episode of his New Heights podcast with brother Jason, Kelce hinted that he would wear numbered Air Jordans which corresponded with each week’s game. He did so for the first four games of the season, wearing pairs including the “Varsity Red” Air Jordan 1 Low OG, “Ray Allen PE” Air Jordan 2, “Legends of Summer” Air Jordan 3 and the Kaws x Air Jordan 4.
Then, in Week 5, Kelce’s plans appeared to change, as he showed up in the Air Jordan 8 “Playoffs.” Following the Chiefs’ bye week, Kelce picked the theme back up with the “Miro” Air Jordan 7 ahead of a San Francisco road game, then was back in the “Playoffs” Air Jordan 8 once again on Oct. 27. Prior to the team’s Monday Night Football overtime win against Tampa Bay on Nov. 4, Kelce arrived wearing the “Doernbecher” Air Jordan 9.
On the field, Kelce has been consistently wearing the Air Jordan 11 cleat, leading many to speculate that a deal between the NFL star and Jordan Brand is in the works. Currently a Nike athlete, Kelce’s deal with the Swoosh will reportedly end after the 2024 season.
Whether Kelce’s pre-game Air Jordans have been a good luck charm for the undefeated team or not, fans can expect him to continue the theme during Sunday’s game against the Buffalo Bills.
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