Travel like a winner. Here’s the (pricey) luggage Chiefs players took to Brazil
When the Kansas City Chiefs boarded a United Airlines flight to Brazil on Wednesday, most players dressed for comfort for the more than 11-hour trip, function over fashion.
Their first official fit parade of the new season comes Friday before they face the Los Angeles Chargers in Sao Paolo.
Yet several still managed to put on a stylish show with their luggage — luxurious, high-end bags and suitcases, some as pricey as a down payment on a car.
Travis Kelce, for one, is known for his enviable collection of expensive Bottega Veneta duffel bags.
“The arrival at the airport to board the team plane or getting off the team bus and entering the stadium has become so popular that I receive press pitches from brands about which player is spotted with its wares,” Megs Mahoney Dusil, co-founder and CEO of PurseBlog, wrote in 2023.
“We typically showcase women’s style on the site, as women tend to carry bags more than men, but the men of the NFL are ready to show us why designer bags being carried by men are just as crucial to their fits.”
Dusil assessed the luggage and bags carried by the Chiefs and Eagles before the Super Bowl two years ago, naming Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Bottega Veneta and Saint Laurent as favorite brands among the more stylish Chiefs.
Last Christmas, Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert gave members of the offensive line some high-end aluminum luggage. Wonder if any of it made it to Brazil for Friday’s game against the Chiefs.
Here’s a look at how the Chiefs packed for the trip.
Fendi for the QB
Superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes, a new brand ambassador for Hublot luxury Swiss watches, prefers his luggage high-end, too. He typically packs for away games with a rolling carry-on and a backpack or small bag.
This week he carried a Fendi Trolley Cabin Size aluminum carry-on ($3,980) from the Italian fashion house’s spring festival capsule collection.
The four-wheeled suitcase, made in Italy, has the iconic Fendi motif on the sides and a combination lock.
His black duffel was a Versace La Greca Signature Travel Bag. Made in Italy like his suitcase, the bag is made from coated canvas and is designed as a weekend bag, perfect for four days in Brazil.
Harrison Butker goes metal, too
Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker’s hard-shell aluminum suitcase by Away ($645) looked like it was easy to roll through airports, with 360-degree spinner wheels. Dual combination locks are TSA-accepted, too.
Random style observation: We hope Butker slipped into something more comfortable after boarding. His slacks and belt read, “I’m hopping a short flight to a business meeting in Chicago,” rather than, “I’m heading to South America.”
German luggage a popular choice
A couple of players, including cornerback Trent McDuffie, traveled with Rimowa suitcases, recognized by the characteristic parallel grooves on the aluminum bags. The luxury luggage company was founded in 1898 in Cologne, Germany, where it is still headquartered.
McDuffie carried Rimowa’s Cabin suitcase ($1,600), described as “a timeless choice for discerning travelers.” Mahomes is a fan of the brand, too.
FYI, dog and cat lovers (cough, cough, Taylor Swift): The company just released a new pet carrier.
Kelce’s bag has seen better days
Kelce’s aluminum suitcase by Tumi looked a little worse for wear, not surprising for someone who traveled extensively in the offseason with his significant other. (Do we need to name her?)
He appeared to be wheeling Tumi’s International Carry-on ($1,295) with the company’s signature fluid-like contours.
It has bumpers, but Tumi cautions that “as with all metals, wear and tear, including nicks, dings and slight denting, is to be anticipated and carried with pride for a journey well-traveled.”
Kelce’s suitcase is clearly well-traveled.
He also appeared to carry Bottega Veneta’s Intrecciato Cabin Duffel ($6,200), a handsome Italian bag with silver-finish hardware.
A little bit of Paris in Sao Paolo
Defensive lineman Chris Jones and offensive lineman Jawaan Taylor carried bags by French luxury label Goyard.
Jones used two of the company’s travel pieces, including what appeared to be a Goyard Saint Leger backpack, a foldable bag with removable straps. Pre-loved bags sell anywhere from $2,700 to $7,500 on eBay.
His suitcase looked like Goyard’s coated-canvas Bourget PM trolley case, which pre-used can cost $7,450.
(He also carried a Gentleman’s Playbook garment bag, which makes us eager to see what his pre-game fit on Friday.)
Taylor also carried Goyard luggage, but it was his colorful Bank of Grails duffel that caught the eye. The company is an online seller of rare and hard-to-find fashion items and accessories, and this duffel appears to be one of them.
Of course, Louis Vuitton
How many times have we seen a Louis Vuitton coated-canvas Keepall Bandoulière in the hands of a Chiefs player? Too many to count.
This classic bag by the French luxury house is a go-to bag among professional athletes. It’s the bag Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts gifted Kelce’s brother, Jason Kelce, for Christmas in 2022 — Jason’s first Louis Vuitton duffel bag.
It’s the bag ($2,570) that offensive lineman Trey Smith packed for Brazil.
“Since 1930, the Keepall duffle has journeyed alongside generations of elegant globetrotters. This version — with comfortable-to-hold leather handles, a strap for casual cross-body-wear and a gleaming padlock — holds all the essentials for an overnight jaunt,” the company writes on its website.
The rookie carried Adidas
Some day, maybe we’ll see rookie defensive end Ashton Gillotte traveling with Louis Vuitton luggage. But for his first overseas trip as a Chiefs player he stuffed full a big black Adidas duffel, not unlike any young dude heading to a guys’ weekend.
His fit made his statement — a $75 hoodie that read, “Just Here To Give God Glory.”
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