Travis Kelce spared no detail when telling Shaquille O’Neal just how badly his experience of the ‘One Chip Challenege’ in 2018 impacted him.
The Kelce brothers welcomed the four-time NBA legend to their New Heights podcast this week for a lengthy chat on a range of topics, from Taylor Swift to the Super Bowl.
And another surprising topic that surfaced was Travis and Shaq’s respective attempts to tackle the spiciest foods they can possibly find.
Kelce asked O’Neal how ‘the One Chip Challenge’ compared to eating ‘Da Bomb’ on Hot Ones, where guests are interviewed over spicy wings.
And while guests often go viral when they struggle with the spice on ‘Hot Ones’, they were both in agreement that the ‘One Chip Challenge’ was the hardest. Competitors were required to eat a single Carolina Reaper ‘Paqui’ chip and wait for as long as possible before drinking anything.
‘That f***ing, that was the craziest experience I have ever been through,’ Kelce, who did the challenge in 2018, said.
Travis Kelce and Shaquille O’Neal compared horror stories from the ‘One Chip Challenge’
Kelce had tears streaming down his face when he tried it, while Shaq alos regretted it
‘That was the worst experience ever. That ruined me for three days straight. I was s****ing out fire. It was ridiculous.’
‘I did too,’ O’Neal said with a laugh, reflecting on his attempt at the challenge on TNT. ‘I drank water (before eating the chip) and the water activated it. My throat started closing.’
Kelce even wore a headband for the One Chip Challenge to soak up the sweat and was immediately in discomfort when he ate the chip.
‘I’ve always wanted to breathe fire like a Pokemon,’ he joked. ‘Burning is an understatement.
‘Frankly, I had no f***ing clue what I was getting myself into. Everything is shaking.’
Kelce, who was pictured out to dinner with Swift on Wednesday night in Palm Springs, is slowly starting to ramp up his preparations for the 2025 NFL season.
He was at the Chiefs’ facility for voluntary OTAs last week as he builds up to try and avenge February’s emphatic Super Bowl loss to Philadelphia Eagles.
The Chiefs begin the upcoming season against the Los Angeles Chargers in Sao Paulo, Brazil on September 5.
Kelce pictured with girlfriend Taylor Swift at the US Open, New York, in September 2024
Kelce joked on a recent New Heights show that he didn’t want to play in Brazil, telling older brother Jason: ‘There’s just something about getting close to the equator, I don’t want to put on football uniform. I’ve been in Jacksonville in September, that’s f***ing miserable.
”Sao Paulo, is that by the water? I’d rather it be dry than humid, I’m a sweaty guy. If it is humid, I am going to be miserable. But I am going to find a way to get a win.
‘I am going to be sweating so bad. I am going to have to ask the equipment guys for a couple jerseys, maybe three pairs of pants. Maybe four cleats, I might just go through a pair.’
