💥 Wait — Is That Really Them? Travis and Jason Kelce Stun Fans with Wild 2016 Throwback Looks

Do a double take — then a triple.
Because Travis Kelce and Jason Kelce just traveled straight back to 2016… and fans can barely recognize them.

The NFL’s most famous brothers joined the viral 2016 throwback trend this week, sharing a carousel of old photos via the Instagram account for their hit podcast New Heights. The caption said it all: “I heard we’re throwing it back to 2016.”

What followed was pure nostalgia — and plenty of shock.

Beards, Combovers and Peak 2016 Energy

The first image shows Travis and Jason posing with their dad, Ed Kelce, in what looks like a tropical getaway. Think Hawaiian shirts, bold colors, and facial hair choices that could only exist in 2016. Travis rocked a full beard, combover energy, neon yellow trousers and a turquoise floral shirt — a look fans were not prepared for.

The next slides flash back to their playing days: Jason mid-expression in his Philadelphia Eagles jersey, and Travis on the field in his Kansas City Chiefs No. 87 during his third NFL season.

Before Rings, Fame — and Everything Else

One of the most talked-about moments? A cozy Christmas family photo featuring mom Donna, dad Ed, and Jason’s then-girlfriend Kylie Kelce — years before marriage and four kids.

There are also snaps of Travis swinging a baseball bat, Jason dressed up and locked in a romantic pose with Kylie, and multiple throwbacks from Travis’ reality TV era on Catching Kelce — a chapter he’s since called “the worst thing I ever did.”

Another family photo, taken at Kansas City barbecue hotspot Q39, rounds out the set — a quiet moment before everything changed.

Ten Years. Two Very Different Lives.

Since 2016, the Kelce brothers’ lives have transformed completely.

Travis went on to win three Super Bowls, redefine the tight end position, flirt with retirement — and find love with global superstar Taylor Swift, with wedding plans now firmly on the horizon.
Jason won a Super Bowl of his own, retired as one of the greatest centers in NFL history, married Kylie, and became a dad of four.

Why Everyone’s Obsessed with 2016 Again

The trend exploded as soon as the clock struck midnight on Jan. 1, 2026, with social media declaring “2026 is the new 2016.” On TikTok alone, #2016 has racked up more than 1.7 million posts — fueled by nostalgia for what many call a simpler time.

And if the Kelce brothers’ photos prove anything, it’s this:

Some glow-ups take a decade. And some memories are too good not to relive. 🖤🏈