Over the years, Jason Kelce has become one of the most beloved sporting figures in the city of Philadelphia. A loving husband, with a great sense of humor, a generous philanthropist, and an overall fun individual, you couldn’t ask for more from someone. But before he could sculpt himself into the man and athlete he is today, Jason, too, had his bad days. The Philadelphia crowd that cheers for him now even wanted him gone.
Advertisement
During his appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live, Jason rewound the clock to his earlier days in Philly, when the team was struggling significantly. They hadn’t even won their first Super Bowl yet, so the fans, each time they got the chance, vented their frustration on the players.
For Jason, though, the worst came in 2016. From the second spot in the NFC East, the Eagles plummeted to last, and Kelce’s struggles didn’t help. So much so that he almost got cut and traded. And the hate and boos from fans were even more intense.
“It was not always sunshine and rainbows… I certainly had my share of downs in 2016. I almost got traded, I almost got cut. And the city really was not big Jason Kelce fan that year.”
The adversity, however, didn’t last long for Kelce. In the very next year, the star center brought the city of Philadelphia their first Lombardi Trophy. He believes he played his best that season, and it continued until he decided to hang up his cleats earlier this year.
“They ended up sticking around and we ended up winning the Super Bowl the next year. I played perhaps my best season following all of that.”
From all the struggles and then the awards he reaped, Jason understood one thing: Philly fans appreciate those who care. They also appreciate those who are willing to show up after a bad week.
Jason knows how to win the hearts of Eagles fans
“Philadelphia fans are tough to please, and Kelce has seen it all from a player’s perspective. However, he wholeheartedly believes that all fans want to see is the effort a player is making. To prove his point, he recalled how former Eagles TE Zach Ertz once changed the narrative surrounding him. While the tight end also became a victim of boos, he managed to prove that he could rise above it.
“So Zack Ertz was in a Bengals game once and he shied away from a block and the whole city wanted to tear him apart,” Jason recalled. “The next game, he caught a pass and ran through three guys and the whole stadium erupted. And just like that, it (the commotion) was over.”
Since then, Jason always tells younger guys that the narrative can change with the snap of a finger. Ertz is the perfect example of that.
Away from the gridiron, Jason still remains the dearest among Eagles fans, especially for the loyalty he and his family have shown. Even his wife Kylie, a Philadelphia native, wouldn’t wear the Chiefs uniform while rooting for her brother-in-law Travis (a Chiefs player). It only showed how much she held the team close to her heart, and fans appreciate it very much.
