Is Jason Kelce the most beloved Philadelphia athlete of all time? It sure feels like it. Since retiring from the NFL, the ex-Eagle has been literally everywhere, from the Super Bowl to cheer on his bro, Travis, to the Jersey Shore to raise money for autism charities, to Paris to sport a beret and soak in the Olympics. His podcast with Travis, New Heights, is a mega hit. And he’s about to start a national TV gig on ESPN’s Monday Night Countdown. His profile continues to get bigger. This special edition of Philadelphia magazine celebrates the incredible career and fascinating life of Jason Kelce, an unheralded draft pick who became one of the all-time greats—on and off the field.
100% Philadelphian
Jason Kelce: The Ultimate Fan Guide
Data With Destiny
CHAPTER ONE 1987 TO 2011 Before Jason Was a Bird • The heartwarming tale of how two rowdy tykes growing up in the Cleveland suburbs went from raising ruckuses in pre-school to the precipice of the NFL
Center Cuts
CHAPTER TWO 2011 T O 2016 Jason Kelce Becomes an Eagle • The undersized center earns a starting spot as a rookie and scores accolades for his speed and tenacity—injuries and coaching changes be damned.
HUT, HUT, HIKE! • Kelce played with some top-tier Birds quarterbacks during his storied career.
Throwing ’Fits
CHAPTER THREE 2017 TO 2018 That Super Bowl Season • In which the Philadelphia Eagles go from juggernauts to underdogs to champions, thanks to a backup quarterback and a miraculous trick play
PHILLY PHILLY
CHAPTER FOUR FEBRUARY 8, 2018 The Parade of the Century • In which our hero delivers a mighty speech dressed as a Mummer
The Speech • There’s already been an ocean of words spilled about center Jason Kelce’s magnum opus of a speech as the Eagles’ Super Bowl parade reached its fevered crescendo on Thursday, February 8, 2018. Our take: We can’t imagine a more fitting cap to that championship season than a bellowed Brobdingnagian howl of catharsis delivered by a bearded man in a sequined turban. But it was more than a civic rallying cry. Behind each of Kelce’s sentences was a season’s worth—in some cases, a lifetime’s worth—of context. As a public service, we present Jason Kelce’s Super Bowl Parade Speech, annotated.
CHAPTER FIVE 2018 TO 2022 The Iron Man Years • In the seasons after the Super Bowl win, Kelce piled on the accolades and built his case as one of the all-time greats.
CHAPTER SIX 2022 TO 2023 Back in the Bowl • Jason and Team Green went back to the Big Game and faced off against lil’ brother Travis and the Chiefs. The Birds came this close to winning it all again.
CHAPTER SEVEN 2023 TO 2024 Hanging Up the Helmet • After a couple years of will-he-or-won’t-he drama, Jason decides to put a cap on one career—and embarks on a whole host of others.
FIGURE OF SPEECH • Jason Kelce has entered the pantheon of the city’s greatest orators. Here, nuggets of wisdom from his epic retirement address
Kelce, Incorporated
Family Matters
PHOTO CREDITS
HAND-To-HAND
