Travis Kelce Has a ‘Natural Charisma,’ In Happy Gilmore 2 (Exclusive)

What can’t Travis Kelce do?

The Kansas City Chiefs tight end, 35, has pivoted his work on the gridiron to a stint on the silver screen with an anticipated cameo in the Adam Sandler-led Happy Gilmore 2, and director Kyle Newacheck has no notes!

In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE ahead of the sequel film’s Netflix release on July 25, Newacheck recalls collaborating with the NFL star on set and praised his talents in front of the camera.

“Kelce was fantastic. He’s a hard worker, and he wanted to do right by the film… everybody did,” Newacheck tells PEOPLE, adding, “I think Kelce’s just so charismatic.”

The three-time, Super Bowl winner doesn’t just run lines, either. He adds his own comedic flare, an element to his effortless — and infections — on-screen abilities Newacheck picked up on while working with him on the film.

“He just is so funny. You want to be around him, and he’s an entertainer,” he says of Kelce, who made his acting debut in Ryan Murphy’s FX series Grotesquerie, plus, has hosted Saturday Night Live, Prime Video’s Are You Smarter Than a Celebrity and co-hosts his podcast, New Heights.

Newacheck also cites the former Cincinnati Bearcat’s football background as a likely reason why he’s so comfortable on set — and from a director’s perspective, knows how to lock in when it’s go time.

“He’s an athlete, so he knows the moment,” he points out, emphasizing, “He knows how to perform in the moment.”

Several other professional athletes also make surprise appearances in Happy Gilmore 2 alongside Kelce, many of whom are — you guessed it — golfers.

“I think that’s what I found interesting was when you have these cameos that are professional athletes, they all understand how to perform in the moment. Every one of them gets it,” the director shares. “Theirs is physical, and now we have to just say words that are funny.”

He adds, “But Travis had a natural charisma that I felt… I felt it. I loved it.”

Kelce’s acting has been applauded by more than just Newacheck for his work on Happy Gilmore 2. In late June, Christopher McDonald — who reprises his villainous, yet fan-favorite role as Shooter McGavin in the sequel film — praised the NFL star for his on-camera work.

“Travis Kelce has been out there and I just really liked him as a person. He is really funny. Way too handsome, by the way, but really a good actor actually,” McDonald told PEOPLE in June while celebrating Happy Gilmore 2’s partnership with Subway.

“Surprisingly good,” he added.

While McDonald was careful not to spill too many details ahead of Happy Gilmore 2’s release on Netflix, he did shed some light on Kelce’s golf skills.

“I think he’s got game,” the actor said of the NFL star, admitting that they “did not” get to play together while filming.

“He’s a good athlete,” McDonald continued of Kelce. “He’s a beast. I’m sure he kills the ball.”

In August 2024, Sandler broke the news on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon that Kelce would be appearing in his Happy Gilmore sequel. 

Kelce called working with the Sandman “a dream come true” when speaking on an episode of ESPN’s The Pat McAfee Show in January 2025.

Happy Gilmore 2 hits Netflix on Friday, July 25.