Jason Kelce would appear to have a dilemma going into Tremendous Bowl LIX with this yr’s sport that includes his favourite group and favourite participant.
The NFC might be represented by the Philadelphia Eagles, the group for which Kelce performed all 13 of his NFL seasons earlier than retiring final offseason to develop into an ESPN analyst.
The AFC might be represented by the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs, the group for which Kelce’s brother and “New Heights” podcast co-host Travis Kelce has performed for the final 12 years.
So what’s a Philadelphia legend who could be very shut with certainly one of Kansas Metropolis’s largest stars to do?
It’s truly fairly easy: He’s going to root for each his former group and his little brother on the Tremendous Bowl in New Orleans.
Jason Kelce addressed the matter Wednesday on this week’s “New Heights” episode.
“Clearly you’re my brother. I’ll all the time root for my brother,” he stated. “That’s the truth of it. Despite the fact that I’m decked out in Eagles gear, I’m all the time gonna root for Travis.”
Travis Kelce responded: “Take that, Philly!”
“Yeah, however,” Jason Kelce continued, “there’s lots of people within the Philadelphia group whether or not it’s gamers, coaches or different individuals within the constructing that really feel like prolonged household to me. Particularly my former linemen. Like, Lane Johnson looks like a brother in plenty of methods.”
Travis Kelce stated: “I respect that.”
“I’m rooting for these guys, too,” Jason Kelce stated. “I’m rooting for Philadelphia and I’m rooting for Travis Kelce. That’s the truth of it. It doesn’t matter what on sport day, I’m gonna be completely satisfied for a kind of sides. And I’m gonna be unhappy for the opposite aspect.”
A sixth-round choose in 2011, Jason Kelce was named the Eagles’ beginning heart out of coaching camp and by no means appeared again. He was a seven-time Professional Bowl choice and performed in two Tremendous Bowls with the group — a 41-33 win over the New England Patriots in Tremendous Bowl LII following the 2017 season and a 38-35 loss to his brother and the Chiefs in Tremendous Bowl LVII following the 2022 season.
An emotional Jason Kelce introduced his retirement on the Eagles coaching facility in March, with an also-emotional Travis Kelce in attendance. On a “New Heights” episode later that month, Jason Kelce first addressed the opportunity of an Eagles-Chiefs Tremendous Bowl for the upcoming season.
“I’ll root for the Eagles, after all, as a result of I’ll all the time be an Eagle in the beginning,” Jason Kelce stated. “I’ll additionally root for Travis to have a great sport, after all, ‘trigger he’s my brother. However, no, I’ll positively be cheering on the Eagles.”
Now that the matchup has develop into a actuality, he hasn’t softened on his pro-Eagles stance.
“I dwell in Philadelphia. I nonetheless go to the amenities on a really common foundation,” Jason Kelce stated. “I nonetheless really feel like I’m a Philadelphia Eagle and that I’m part of all of those those that root and cheer on our group. … I might be mendacity if I stated I don’t need the Eagles to win, you already know what I imply? I would like them to.”
However now he additionally appears to need extra for his 35-year-old brother than simply having a great sport.
“However I additionally need Travis Kelce to win,” Jason Kelce, 37, stated. “In order that’s a long-winded means of claiming I simply wish to see a great soccer sport and whoever wins I’m gonna be completely satisfied for that man.”