Christopher McDonald, known for playing the antagonist Shooter McGavin in the original 1996 comedy Happy Gilmore, revealed his playful rivalry with Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce during an interview ahead of the Netflix premiere of Happy Gilmore 2 on July 24. As a devoted Buffalo Bills fan, McDonald expressed how he “hated” Kelce, emphasizing the real-life tension between the two given their respective team loyalties.
McDonald described the situation:
I told him, I hate him. I hated him,
—Christopher McDonald.
He’s too damn good. And we’ll get him. We’ll get him one of these days because buckle up, the Bills are right there to get that final hill to go over.
This back-and-forth adds an interesting layer to their dynamic, especially since Kelce’s Chiefs have dominated the Bills in recent postseason matchups, including victories in AFC divisional rounds and championship games since 2020.
Travis Kelce’s On-Field Success Fuels Friendly Antagonism
On the football field, Travis Kelce has been a formidable opponent for the Bills. Over eight games against Buffalo, he has amassed 36 receptions totaling 448 yards and scored four touchdowns. Their rivalry has seen heated moments, such as during the latest AFC championship game where Kelce was fined $11,255 for taunting despite a modest on-field performance.
Reflecting on the incident, McDonald said:
So, I’m a little bit angry about that, but he was a good sport about it,
—Christopher McDonald.
Plus, I’m a fan of him. He’s good.
Despite the playful animosity, there is mutual respect between McDonald and Kelce, which translates into their interactions both on and off the set of the film.
Travis Kelce’s Acting Debut in a Dream Role alongside Adam Sandler
For Travis Kelce, appearing in Happy Gilmore 2 marks his first significant role in a feature film after prior appearances on television shows like Grotesquerie and Moonbase 8. His involvement in the sequel, produced by Adam Sandler’s Happy Productions, was described by Kelce as a “dream come true.”
Kelce spoke about his experience on The Pat McAfee Show in January, saying:
I’ll tell you what, that was a dream come true. I thought SNL (Saturday Night Live) was going to be the peak of my acting and showman or entertainment career,
—Travis Kelce.
Working with Happy Gilmore himself, the Sandman and Happy Productions, it was off the chain.
McDonald commented on Kelce’s unexpected talent for acting, calling him “surprisingly good.” Kelce further compared Sandler’s directorial style to that of a legendary football coach:
They’re so professional and yet so fun to work with, I felt like I was working with the [Chiefs coach] Andy Reid of the acting world, man,
—Travis Kelce.
[Sandler] is every bit as cool off the screen as he is on the screen and that was a dream come true. That was awesome. I’m in, I believe, a few scenes. I got a pretty hefty load in there.
Subway Revives ‘Happy Gilmore’ Promotion with New Campaign Featuring McDonald
Subway is once again partnering with the Happy Gilmore franchise, this time reintroducing the Happy Gilmore Meal in promotion with the sequel. In 1996, the original movie featured a Subway All-American sandwich, and now Christopher McDonald stars in the new Subway commercials connected to the campaign.
McDonald shared details about the promotional activities:
Well, Subway has gone above and beyond,
—Christopher McDonald.
This time, they have great three different treats for the fans. They have the subwayhappyplace.com, where you can sign up and get to win great prizes and stuff. There’s also what they call the MVP rewards, where you can get more perks inside ‘Subway’s Happy Place’ like bonus entries into a weekly sweepstakes for a chance to win more than $1 million in prizes, including a custom golf cart, weekly cash prizes (delivered as Big Ass Checks like in the movie), and a golf resort trip for two.
The campaign offers fans instant win prizes such as Subway Cash and Topgolf play codes. Additionally, four collectible cups featuring characters from the franchise — Happy Gilmore, Shooter McGavin, Hal, and newcomer Oscar — will be available starting July 10 with any upgrade to the Happy Gilmore Meal for $1 more.
Significance of the Kelce and McDonald Dynamic and Promotional Tie-Ins
The playful rivalry between Christopher McDonald and Travis Kelce highlights the crossover between sports and entertainment, especially as Kelce makes his acting debut in a highly anticipated sequel. Their banter mirrors the longstanding competition between the Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs, offering fans an extra layer of intrigue as the film debuts.
Meanwhile, Subway’s revitalized promotional efforts connect nostalgic fans and new audiences, leveraging the movie’s cult status and current relevance. These elements combined signal not only an entertaining sequel but a marketing campaign likely to engage a broad spectrum of viewers and sports enthusiasts alike.