Donna Kelce Says She Had to ‘Stand Still’ in Her Marriage to Ed Until Their Divorce: ‘We Stayed Together for the Kids’

Mar. 15, 2025

Donna Kelcehas always set a strong example for her boys.

ForGlamour’s 2024Women of the Year: The Momsissue, the 71-year-old matriarch shared what it was like for her and ex-husbandEd Kelceto raise their sons — retired Philadelphia Eagles centerJason Kelce, 36, and Kansas City Chiefs tight endTravis Kelce, 34 — before they got famous.

“I was a commercial banker for a bank in several different states. I wanted to get ahead. I worked really, really hard. I was a major breadwinner in the family,” Kelce said. “And I think it’s important for kids to see that a woman can do whatever she wants, but I did stand still, too.”

“My husband and I knew that our marriage was not working, but we stayed together for the kids,” Donna explained. “Ours was a very friendly relationship. So, we could do that and make sure that their life was normal as possible. But in that one respect, I did stand still for several years until I could move on on my own.”

Glamour 2024 Women of the Year: The Moms.Danielle Levitt

Danielle Levitt

Donna shared her thoughts inGlamour’s group interview, which also includedBeyoncéandSolange’s momTina Knowles, 70;Billie EilishandFinneas’momMaggie Baird, 65; andSelena GomezandGracie Teefey’s momMandy Teefey, 48.

Donna Kelce; Ed Kelce.Michael Owens/Getty; Perry Knotts/Getty

Michael Owens/Getty; Perry Knotts/Getty

She also revealed what motherhood was like for her, saying that “being a mom is probably the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life.”

“It’s so much easier to just go to work, but raising children, when they’re totally dependent on you and you’re trying to do the best you can with the limited resources that you have, it’s the most daunting task I’ve ever had to do,” Donna added.

Donna Kelce, Jason Kelce, Ed Kelce and Travis Kelce.Donna Kelce Instagram

Donna Kelce Instagram

But now that her boys are grown, Donna has been making time for herself.

This Christmas, she’s set to appear in the Hallmark Channel’s upcoming Kansas City-set movie,Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story.

She also makes a cameo in another film, titledChristmas on Call, which centers on “the lives of first responders in Philadelphia” who “intersect over the holiday season while juggling work, personal lives, and their dedication to protect and serve their city,” according to the logline.

In it, Donna can be seen proudly sporting an Eagles jersey.

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Donna Kelce, mother of Jason Kelce and Travis Kelce attends Super Bowl LVII.Kevin Mazur/Getty

Kevin Mazur/Getty

But keeping true in not playing favorites, Donna recently attended theNew York City premiereof FX’sGrotesqueriein support of Travis’ role in the series.

source: people.com