Chiefs’ Travis Kelce to host NBC’s ‘Saturday Night Live.’ Here are the details

Travis Kelce — following a Super Bowl LVII victory — will soon be testing his acting and comedic chops.

The Kansas City Chiefs tight end has accepted an invitation to host NBC’s “Saturday Night Live,” he announced on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” on Thursday. Kelce will lead the March 4 show and will be joined by musical guest Kelsea Ballerini.

During an interview with Fallon, Kelce revealed why the honor held special significance.

“I was a huge (Chris) Farley, (Will) Ferrell, (Jimmy) Fallon kind-of guy growing up. I used to watch ‘Saturday Night Live’ with my mother,” Kelce said. “It’s an absolute honor and privilege to be hosting ‘SNL’ on March 4.”

Kelce began to add to his media background this season, co-hosting the “New Heights” podcast with his brother, Jason. For multiple weeks, that show has held the No. 1 spot in the United States on the Apple podcast charts.

Hosting a live comedy sketch show promises to be a different experience, and Kelce admitted as much Thursday.

“I am so nervous for that,” Kelce told Fallon. “Oh my gosh.”

There is already one built-in connection between Kelce and the sketch show.

“Saturday Night Live” star and native Kansas Citian Heidi Gardner spoke about the prospect of Kelce appearing on the show to The Ringer back in September.

Specifically, Bill Simmons asked Gardner on a podcast if quarterback Patrick Mahomes could one day branch out into acting and perhaps host the show, to which Gardner offered an alternative.

“It’s like my biggest dream, and I wish they would do a Mahomes/Kelce co-host, because I think Travis Kelce is actually hilarious, super charismatic, and he would balance just the part of like Mahomes that might be a little more reserved or nervous,” she said. “I think they’d be a great double duo.

“And they would probably get annoyed by what a little sister I would be tapping on their shoulder all week, and they fully know that I’m from Kansas City and a fan.”

Kelce, an All-Pro tight end for the Chiefs this season, had six catches for 81 yards with a touchdown in Sunday’s 38-35 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LVII.