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Jason Kelce’s retirement speech was about more than what happened on the field during his 13 seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles.

It was also about his family, the people who taught him to believe in himself and who have filled his life with love.

At various points in the speech, which he delivered Monday at the Eagles’ facility, Kelce thanked his mother, father, brother and wife, noting that what happens at home away from football now fulfills him more than his NFL career.

In thanking his dad, Kelce celebrated the importance of fatherhood. He said he’s striving to live up to his father’s example in his relationship with his three daughters.

“I think one of the best things a person can be in this world is a father. A father who is present, loving (and) devoted just might be the greatest gift a child can ask for in our society, and I have a (expletive) good one,” he said.

Here are other family-related quotes from Kelce’s retirement speech:

Philadelphia Eagles’ Jason Kelce speaks during a press conference announcing his retirement in Philadelphia, Monday, March 4, 2024. | Matt Rourke

On his brother, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce

“We have a small family. No cousins, one aunt, one uncle. It was really my brother and I our whole lives. We did almost everything together — competed, fought, laughed, cried and learned from each other.

“We invented games, imagined ourselves as star players of that time. We’d envision making the winning plays day after day on Coleridge Road. We won countless Super Bowls in our minds before ever leaving the house. And when we weren’t playing, we were at the other one’s games, butt seated in a lawn chair or bench, Capri Sun that mom had packed, cheering during the game and waiting outside afterward to celebrate a victory together or offer encouragement after a defeat.

“There is no chance I’d be here without the bond Travis and I share. It made me stronger, tougher, smarter, and it taught me the values of cooperation, loyalty, patience and understanding.

“It’s only too poetic I found my career being fulfilled in the City of Brotherly Love. I knew that relationship all too well.”

On his wife, Kylie McDevitt Kelce

“I think it’s no coincidence I have enjoyed the best years of my career with Kylie by my side. Every accolade I have ever received has come with her in my life. She has brought the best out of me through love, devotion, support, honesty, intelligence and of course a swift kick in the (expletive) from time to time.

“She has also given me three beautiful girls and a life that increasingly gives me more fulfillment off the field than it does on.”

Philadelphia Eagles’ Jason Kelce’s family, from left, Kansas City Chiefs’ Travis Kelce; mother, Donna Kelce; father, Ed Kelce; and wife, Kylie McDevitt Kelce, listens as Jason Kelce announces his retirement at an NFL football press conference in Philadelphia, Monday, March 4, 2024. | Matt Rourke

On his father, Ed Kelce

“My father believed in me more than anyone. He believed in my brother, and whenever my own insecurities would arise or self-doubt would come in, he would stifle them with the warm embrace of belief, unwavering love and belief. … He was the man and continues to be the man I strive to be.”

On his mom, Donna Kelce

“I won’t forget my mother becoming mom of the NFL, a representative for all moms out there who have sacrificed so much for their children.”

“… Mom took the opportunity to go to college and graduated from the Ohio University, worked in banking for over 40 years, climbing the corporate ladder from a teller to a VP and was largely the breadwinner for our family.

“I like to think I got my toughness, aggression and lunch pail mentality from my father and, from my mother, I learned the all-important lesson of never letting anyone tell you what you can’t do.”

Jason Kelce, his wife Kylie and their family are mourning the death of their beloved dog, Winnie.

Kylie shared several photos on social media as she announced the sad news on Thursday (March 14). She also opened up about how special the family dog was to her and how she always wanted an Irish Wolfhound.

“When I was in high school I had a folder on my desktop labeled ‘God’s gift to earth.’ It was images of Irish Wolfhounds that I had collected from Google,” she writes in the caption. “I had fallen in love with the breed when I was a young and never let my fascination with them fade.”

“It all lead me to Winnie and holy s–t did she live up to the hype. She was everything I had hoped for in a Wolfie and more,” she continues. “I lost part of my soul today, but I know she is at peace.”

“I love you, Winn. You will always be my first born child.”

Photos shared with fans include snaps of Winnie lounging around different parts of the house, and being loved on by her owners. One special photo is from the couple’s wedding day, with Kylie — in her wedding gown — crouched down next to Winnie. The dog is wearing floral collar and is looking lovingly at her owner.

Kylie calls Winnie her first child. The couple brought Winnie home before they got married in 2018, and for a time she was an only child. The Kelces would eventually bring home a dog brother for Winnie — also an Irish Wolfhound — named Baloo. Both pups have their own Instagram page at the Kelce K9s.

It wasn’t long before the dogs received human siblings, too: Kelce and his wife have three children, daughters Wyatt, 4, Elliotte Ray, 3, and Bennett, 1.

Kelce will be spending more time with his family these days since retiring from the NFL. On March 4, the longtime Philadelphia Eagles center announced he would be hanging up his cleats after 13 years in the league.

 

LAS VEGAS (Gray News) – Jason Kelce arrived at the Super Bowl in style.

Kelce arrived at Allegiant Stadium on Sunday in Las Vegas wearing Kansas City Chiefs overalls with a red-and-yellow checkered pattern. Underneath the overalls, he sported a red Chiefs T-shirt.

The Philadelphia Eagles center is at the big game to cheer on his younger brother, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce.

The Chiefs face off against the San Francisco 49ers at the big game.

Copyright 2024 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.

In a fun twist, Philadelphia Eagles’ All-Pro center, Jason Kelce, 36, has taken his viral shirt-ripping moment to a new level in a social media ad campaign for Frank’s RedHot hot sauce.

Known for his energetic antics both on and off the field, Kelce recently gained internet fame after enthusiastically tearing off his shirt while cheering on his brother, Travis Kelce, and the Kansas City Chiefs at Highmark Stadium.

In the new Social Media Super Bowl spot created by ColleMcVoy, Kelce parodies his viral moment by providing step-by-step instructions for making Frank’s RedHot buffalo chicken dip while shedding layers of clothing. The ad, which has garnered significant attention on social media platforms, showcases Kelce’s charismatic personality and playful demeanor.

“Hey, welcome to Kelce kitchen, let me tell you how to make Frank’s RedHot buffalo chicken dip,” Kelce enthusiastically announces at the start of the ad.

With each ingredient mentioned, Kelce theatrically removes a corresponding shirt to reveal the next step in the recipe. From shredded chicken to cream cheese and ranch dressing, Kelce’s comedic timing and expressive gestures add to the entertainment value of the advertisement.

At one point during the shirt-stripping sequence, Kelce encounters difficulty removing a shirt labeled “1/2 cup ranch dressing,” prompting a humorous remark: “Oh, that one was a little harder. But I got it!”

The ad culminates with Kelce revealing the star ingredient of the buffalo chicken dip – 1/2 cup of Frank’s RedHot sauce – as he removes his final shirt, bringing the amusing demonstration to a close. Watch below:

“Shirts were custom-made in LA with a very specific pattern for them to be ripped off,” shares Colle McVoy Executive Producer Kelly Farley. “And, we can confirm Jason is legit strong. We played around with the shirts before—and struggled to pull them off. You’ll see in the bloopers he tore three off at one time accidentally.”
The shoot, which occurred just two days prior, transformed a hotel room into an edit studio for post-production. The team maintained a fast pace, opting for minimal hair and makeup and gentle lighting to preserve authenticity. Each shot was meticulously planned, ensuring Kelce’s spontaneous charm shone through.

During the shoot, Kelce’s commitment to the campaign was evident as he poured Frank’s RedHot into his coffee with gusto, using a total of 25 bottles throughout filming. The production timeline was tight, with only 13 business days from the conception of the new creative concept to filming, including pre-game and in-game content. Watch below:

“At breakneck speeds, there was no time to overthink things—and that was a good thing. I’m not sure we’d have ended in the same place, seizing the moment if we had approached a traditional ad spot where talent is locked in many months in advance,” added Colle McVoy VP Group Creative Director, John Neerland.

Despite the time constraints, discussions about the set’s look and feel were extensive. Ultimately, the decision was made to create a clear distinction between pre-recorded content and live game footage to avoid viewer confusion.

The team’s dedication extended to wardrobe choices, with custom-made shirts designed to be ripped off during the shoot. Kelce’s genuine strength surprised the crew when he effortlessly tore off three shirts at once during one take.

Director Raul B. Fernandez, known for his improvisational background, played a crucial role in maintaining the shoot’s momentum. His keen eye ensured that Kelce’s authenticity was captured on camera, even amidst rapid client reviews and legal sign-offs.

The success of the collaboration underscores the power of spontaneity and authenticity in advertising, proving that seizing the moment can lead to memorable campaigns that resonate with audiences. As Frank’s RedHot and Jason Kelce continue to spice up Big Game ads, viewers can expect a flavorful twist on traditional advertising.

Super Bowl LVIII will be played at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada on Sunday, February 11, 2024. It will be broadcast on CBS and streamed on Paramount+ and Nickelodeon. Usher will perform at halftime.

Jason Kelce, apparently, puts that $#!t on everything.Frank’s RedHot

Feb. 9, 2024, 5:02 AM GMT+7
By Joseph Lamour

Jason Kelce can’t stop ripping off his shirt — again, and again, and again — but this time, it’s not because his brother Travis scored a touchdown.

It’s because he scored a brand deal with Frank’s RedHot ahead of Super Bowl 58.

And like his cookie-baking, baked brie-making mama, Jason Kelce is offering a recipe for the big game.

“Hey. Welcome to Kelce’s kitchen. Let me show you how to make Frank’s RedHot Buffalo Chicken Dip,” Kelce says in an Instagram video. The recipe, which is also available on Frank’s website, is presented by the Philadelphia Eagles center in a very Kelce way.

“Two cups of shredded chicken!” he says, ripping off his branded T-shirt to reveal another underneath with the first ingredient helpfully screen-printed on it. Then, he tears that shirt. “8 ounces cream cheese.”

“Ooh, that one was a little harder, but I got it!” Kelce says, wresting off his cream cheese tee to reveal a “1/2 cup ranch dressing” tee. He continues with other successive shirt rips, including blue cheese crumbles, Frank’s RedHot and even the instructions to mix and bake.

Jason Kelce is partnering with Frank’s ReddHot for Super Bowl 58.Frank’s RedHot

All in all, he rips seven shirts off himself, which leaves a final tee, which reads, “I put that $#!t on everything,” the brand’s slogan, which Kelce says to camera before taking a bite of the dip and delivering his best war cry.

“Yeah!” he shouts.

This spot is a riff on Kelce’s viral reaction to his brother Travis scoring a touchdown during the Kansas City Chiefs-Buffalo Bills playoff game.

Cameras caught the supportive brother cheering shirtless in the brisk winter weather wearing a red beanie and not much else. The moment inspired funny memes and reactions from country superstar Shania Twain and also Kelce’s own daughter, who said, “Dad’s boobs are showing.”

Frank’s RedHot says that on Feb. 11 — aka Super Bowl Sunday — fans can follow along with Frank’s as Kelce adds a dab or two (or more) of the hot sauce to foods featured in Super Bowl commercials.

These include cookies, sodas and even yogurt, just like he does in an accompanying ad posted on Instagram.

“Everyone knows I love hot sauce. Like me, Frank’s RedHot doesn’t take itself too seriously,” Kelce says in a press release. “This partnership is about having fun with flavor and heat; I’m excited to put that $#!t on everything, and for fans to do the same. From wings to candy, let’s turn up the heat for the Big Game!”

Frank’s is also hosting a sweepstakes on Feb. 11 that offers hot sauce fans 58 $1,000 cash prizes. The brand asks fans nationwide to show their love for capsaicin by sharing photos of themselves putting Frank’s RedHot on their favorite foods.

Interested folks need to share a post on Instagram showing them putting Frank’s on the food they love, tag @FranksRedHot and add the hashtag #FranksSweepstakes to their post. Alternatively, folks can enter by telling Frank’s via its contest page their favorite way to use the hot sauce. See all the terms and conditions here.

Brothers Travis Kelce and Jason Kelce are on their way to becoming NFL legends: Travis is a record-breaking tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs and Jason was the fan-favorite center of the Philadelphia Eagles.

The brothers faced off in the Super Bowl for the first time when the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs played each other on Feb. 12, 2023. Travis and the Chiefs ultimately defeated Jason and the Eagles 38-35 in the historic match-up. As soon as the game ended, Jason gave his little brother a hug and the two seemingly shared a few encouraging words.

Later, Travis got emotional when speaking to the press about his brother following the win. “There’s nothing you can really say to a loved one in a situation like that,” he said while fighting back tears. “You joke around all the time and say you want to beat your brother on the biggest stage, but it’s a weird feeling.” He added, “There’s nothing I can say to him other than I love him and he played a hell of a year, a hell of a season.”

In November 2023, Travis and Jason’s teams faced off again during regular season play. The Eagles beat the Chiefs 21-17 — a feat they haven’t achieved since 2009. Though Jason’s team was ultimately knocked out of the playoffs, Travis’ Chiefs once again secured a spot in the Super Bowl after defeating the Baltimore Ravens during the AFC Championship — and Jason was right there cheering him on.

The Chiefs ultimately defeated the San Francisco 49ers during Super Bowl 2024, and Jason was once again on hand to support his younger brother, which meant the world to Travis, as he told reporters ahead of the big game.

“Just having his support is all I need. Seeing him at the game, seeing him get excited, that’s everything,” he shared. However, the tight end wasn’t quite sure if this year’s event could live up to the Kelce Bowl.

“I don’t know any moment will ever compare to being on top of the world, going against my brother like that,” he added.

In March 2024, Jason announced that he was retiring from football after 13 seasons in the NFL following weeks of speculation that he was ready to walk away from the game.

From their childhood in Ohio to their decade in the NFL together, here’s everything to know about Jason and Travis Kelce.

Jason and Travis are nearly two years apart

Travis Kelce and Jason Kelce smile for a photo. TRAVIS KELCE INSTAGRAM

There are exactly 23 months between Jason and Travis Kelce: Jason was born on Nov. 5, 1987, and Travis arrived on Oct. 5, 1989. The two grew up in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, where their father Ed worked in steel and their mother Donna worked in banking, according to Sports Illustrated. Raising two boys so close in age wasn’t always easy, Donna revealed in an interview with FOX 4 Kansas City.

“It’s a lot of broken windows, a lot of, you know, crashes, a lot of fighting … and Travis was always the one that was the instigator because he wanted his brother’s attention,” she shared.

Jason echoed similar sentiments about what it was like growing up with his younger brother Travis. “Two-year age difference, so growing up, in typical younger brother fashion, Travis found all the other ways to get the upper hand — and that was the most annoying thing ever,” Jason said in an interview with NFL Films in 2018.

Besides annoying each other, their close age gap also led to a natural competition developing between the two. “They were very, very competitive from a very early age,” Donna told FOX 4 Kansas City.

But the competitiveness between the brothers wasn’t all bad, according to Travis. “I think the competitiveness that we had growing up is very big on why we’re even in the NFL in the first place,” he told NFL Films.

Their competitiveness carried over into adulthood, Donna told PEOPLE in January, but it’s all in good fun.

“They’re just as competitive as adults today, always jabbing at each other [about] who’s the best,” she said. “It doesn’t stop. They’re each other’s biggest fan.”

They were both kicked out of preschool

Jason Kelce and Travis Kelce as kids. COURTESY OF DONNA AND ED KELCE

During an episode of New Heights with Jason and Travis Kelce, Jason and Travis revealed that they were both kicked out of preschool.

Jason explained that he was involved in an incident while “playing at a cafeteria table” with another student. “For some reason, we were stabbing each other with sporks and I hit him hard enough right in the forehead,” he recalled. “I just remember the next day his dad had him under his arm and he had four little spork dots.”

Meanwhile, Travis said he was asked not to return to preschool after refusing to share a checkers set.

“I kept winning and the teacher told me, you know Travis, you have to share and I was like, that’s not how it rolls,” Travis said, adding that he then “threw the chair I was sitting in at her.”

They played football together at the University of Cincinnati

Travis Kelce and Jason Kelce pose for a photo. TRAVIS KELCE INSTAGRAM

The Kelce brothers played multiple sports in high school: They both played football and baseball, and Jason played hockey in the winters while Travis played basketball. But when it came to college, Jason attended the University of Cincinnati and walked on to their football team as a linebacker before becoming an offensive lineman, Sports Illustrated reported.

Two years later, despite having multiple scholarship offers for football, Travis decided to follow his brother and play at Cincinnati. “Being two years behind him, I’ve naturally always kind of followed his footsteps,” he said in an interview with NFL Films. “Being on his team, knowing that he’s already going through this system — it just made the most sense.”

But Travis’ college football career was almost cut short when, after his freshman year in 2009, he failed a drug test. It resulted in him having his scholarship revoked and being kicked off the football team — until Jason stepped in. Jason had Travis move in with him and some other teammates — “So I could keep an eye on him,” Jason told the Philadelphia Inquirer — and also spoke to the head coach about letting Travis back on the team. His big-brother efforts worked.

“I’ve never really asked how he got me back on the team,” Travis said to Sports Illustrated. “That was my brother just being a big brother, looking out for me every step of the way and fighting for the success story.”

Jason played for the Philadelphia Eagles since being drafted in 2011

Jason Kelce at an Eagles game. TIM NWACHUKWU/GETTY

After graduating from the University of Cincinnati, Jason was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the sixth round of the 2011 NFL Draft. As an offensive lineman, he was described as an “undersized, late-round draft pick,” according to Philadelphia Eagles writer Dave Spadaro, who had, “statistically, about a 6 percent chance of lasting two seasons in the NFL.” When he retired, Jason had been the starting center for the Philadelphia Eagles for 13 seasons.

During his career with the Eagles, Jason had no shortage of success. The center made it to the Pro Bowl seven times, has been named first-team All-Pro by the Associated Press six times and won a Super Bowl in 2018. Following Philadelphia’s Super Bowl win (the first in team history), Jason delivered a passionate speech during the team’s victory parade that ultimately went viral.

“Bottom line is, we wanted it more. All the players. All the coaches. The front office. Jeffrey Lurie. Everybody wanted it more. And that’s why we’re up here today. And that’s why we’re the first team in Eagles history to hold that freaking trophy,” he said to the Philly fans.

In March 2022, he signed a one-year, $14 million contract with the Eagles — making him the highest-paid center in the NFL at the time, according to ESPN. “The bottom line is that to be in one place for the entirety of my career truly has been a blessing,” Jason told Spadaro about his time with the Eagles.

Travis was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in 2013

Travis Kelce during a Chiefs game. JAMIE SQUIRE/GETTY

Similar to his big brother, Travis has spent his entire NFL career with the same team: The tight end was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the third round of the 2013 NFL Draft. The coach who drafted him to the Chiefs, Andy Reid, was his brother Jason’s former coach at the Philadelphia Eagles.

Travis has since made a name for himself in the NFL for both his performance and his personality. In his 11 seasons with the Chiefs, he’s been invited to the Pro Bowl nine times and is currently preparing for his fourth trip to the Super Bowl (he’s won twice). Beyond his football talents, he’s also well known for his celebratory — and meme-worthy — dances in the end zone.

Many sports analysts consider Travis to be one of the top tight ends to ever play the game, thanks to his ongoing Hall-of-Fame-worthy NFL career. Sports Illustrated ranked him in the top 10 NFL players of 2022, ESPN has called him “one of the best NFL players ever” and Chiefs’ quarterback Patrick Mahomes considers him “the greatest tight end of all time.” Travis also considers himself one of the best.

“I’m not going to lie to myself. I’m going to look at the film. I’m going to look at the stats. I’m going to look at where my team is compared to everyone else, and I’m going to say, am I the best?” he told GQ in 2017. “I think I’m the best tight end in the game.

Travis wears No. 87 in honor of his brother Jason

Travis Kelce takes the field. PETER AIKEN/GETTY

Travis has worn number 87 for the entirety of his career with the Chiefs — and that number pays special tribute to his big brother Jason. The tight end revealed in a post-game exchange with Jason that he had selected the number in honor of Jason’s birth year, 1987.

“You’re the only reason why I wear 87 anyways,” Travis said to Jason on the sidelines. “I never told you that, man. You started the legacy.”

Travis elaborated on his decision to wear number 87 in an interview with NFL Films. “If there is a Kelce legacy, two brothers making it to the NFL, it all started in 1987 because this big guy was born in 1987,” Travis said while sitting beside Jason.

They host a podcast together called New Heights With Jason & Travis Kelce

Jason Kelce and Travis Kelce on their podcast.NEW HEIGHTS/YOUTUBE

The Kelce brothers debuted their joint podcast, New Heights with Jason and Travis Kelce, in September 2022. Despite their demanding football schedules, the duo record weekly episodes — between 60 and 90 minutes — discussing their games, trending NFL news and sports headlines.

“It’s been good to just have that set amount of time to be able to just sit down and chat,” Travis told Forbes about their podcast. “It’s like we’re just kicking it at dinner back when we were in high school and college together.”

The brothers have had some of football’s biggest names join them on their podcast, including former New England Patriot Rob Gronkowski, Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts and Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

“I’m having a blast,” Travis told Forbes. “It’s fun to just do something with my brother weekly.”

Jason is married with three daughters

Jason Kelce and Kylie Kelce with their daughters.KYLIE KELCE/INSTAGRAM

Jason married Kylie McDevitt on April 14, 2018, in Philadelphia. The couple originally met on Tinder.

Since their wedding, Kylie and Jason have welcomed three daughters: Wyatt Elizabeth in 2019, Elliotte Ray in 2021 and Bennet Llwellyn in 2023.

While Travis isn’t a father yet, Kylie called her brother-in-law the “absolute best uncle you can imagine” while speaking with PEOPLE in February 2023.

“It’s very funny, Jason said in an interview that he thinks [the girls] might like him more than they like Jason,” she added.

Travis had his own reality dating show, Catching Kelce

Travis Kelce at the 2022 ESPYs. LEON BENNETT/GETTY

In 2016, Travis attempted to find love on reality television with his own show on E! called Catching Kelce. On the elimination-style show, Travis met one woman from each of the 50 states and went on a series of dates during the series to find his perfect match. However, Travis later revealed in 2023 that the decision to do the show was more financially motivated rather than romantically.

“I heard about this situation where I could make six figures in two weeks and I was like, ah, and 50 ladies, I’m like, ‘This is actually starting to sound a little better,’ ” Travis told The Pivot Podcast in January 2023. “It was definitely a learning experience.”

Though Travis didn’t find a lifelong partner on Catching Kelce, he was in an on-again, off-again relationship with model and influencer Kayla Nicole for five years. They began dating in 2017, split in August 2020 and reconciled in December of that year before splitting for good in 2022.

“I’m in the free market right now. I’m out there just enjoying life, focused on my profession,” he said about his relationship status on The Pivot Podcast in January 2023.

Travis is dating Taylor Swift

Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift after the AFC Championship Game.ROB CARR/GETTY

Travis’ single stage didn’t last long. During the summer of 2023, the tight end revealed he had attempted to give Taylor Swift a friendship bracelet (with his phone number on it) at one of her Eras Tour concerts.

“I was disappointed that she doesn’t talk before or after her shows because she has to save her voice for the 44 songs that she sings,” he during an episode of New Heights. “She doesn’t meet anybody or she didn’t want to meet me, so I took it personal.”

However, his attempt turned out to be successful in the long run — Travis and Swift eventually connected and started quietly dating, making their public debut when Swift attended a Chiefs game in September. Since then, Swift has become a regular attendee at Chiefs games, often inviting her friends to join her.

“I love it when Taylor comes and supports me and enjoys the game with the fam and friends,” Travis said while appearing on The Pat McAfee Show. “It’s been nothing but a wonderful year, man.”

The NFL player even returned the favor by flying to Argentina to take in another one of Swift’s concerts.

After Travis and the Chiefs clinched their AFC championship victory in January, Swift joined the tight end and his parents on the field to celebrate. The pair were seen kissing and embracing after the victory, with Travis even telling the superstar, “I love you.”

The brothers each have their own foundations to help give back

Travis Kelce and Jason Kelce holding each others’ jerseys. TRAVIS KELCE INSTAGRAM

Both Jason and Travis recognize the importance of doing good both on and off the field. Each brother has set up their own foundation to help give back to the communities that have supported them as professional athletes.

Travis set up Eighty-Seven & Running in 2015 as a way to help underserved youth develop critical life skills, through projects like converting an abandoned Kansas City muffler shop into an educational STEM lab for teens.

“It’s what it’s all about, in my mind,” he told PEOPLE about his philanthropy. “Over the course of my career, do I care about football? A whole lot. I care about my career and the legacy that I leave, but I do know that I have the opportunity to relate to a lot of people in this community. And with that, I think it’s a bit of a responsibility to do the right things.”

Jason established his own foundation, (Be)Philly, in October 2022. The non-profit is dedicated to improving the lives of Philadelphia’s youth.

“Whether my family, my friends, or my fellow Philadelphians, I have always felt an overwhelming love and support that has helped reach my dreams and potential on and off the field. Now it’s my turn,” Jason wrote on the nonprofit’s website.

He continued, “Philadelphia is an incredible city, but we know it can be even better. We owe it to ourselves to give the next generation the resources and opportunities they deserve.”

Jason and Travis played each other in Super Bowl LVII

Jason and Travis Kelce on the field. COOPER NEILL/GETTY

The Kelce brothers made history on Feb. 12, 2023, when they became the first brothers to ever play each other in the Super Bowl.

The brothers have always wanted to face off on the Super Bowl field, Travis said on their podcast, New Heights with Jason and Travis Kelce.

“It’s wild and kind of surreal,” he shared. “I feel like I’ve been getting asked this question for my entire career. ‘What would you feel if you played your brother in the Super Bowl?’ The entire time I’ve been like, ‘That’s been the goal.’ Now that it’s actually happening, it’s kind of sick. Now someone’s gotta send their brother home.”

Though Travis and the Chiefs ultimately won the Super Bowl, the two brothers shared an embrace both before and after the game.

Though both are busy with their own teams, they still enjoy coming out in support of each other. After the Eagles were eliminated following the playoffs in January 2024, Jason said he would try to come out to the Chiefs next game to see his little brother play.

“I don’t know, that’s one of the beautiful things about the off-season, it’s unscheduled,” Jason said after the Eagles loss. “So, you know, obviously my brother’s still in the playoffs. I don’t get to watch him play very often, maybe I’ll get an opportunity to go watch one of those games this week.”

Jason cheered Travis on during Super Bowl 2024

Travis KElce and Jason Kelce celebrate after the AFC Championship Game. PATRICK SMITH/GETTY

Travis and the Chiefs faced off against the San Francisco 49ers on Feb 11., where they ultimately were crowned champions after an overtime win. Jason, along with his wife Kylie, their parents Donna and Ed, and Travis’ girlfriend Swift cheered the tight end on from a suite at Allegiant Stadium.

Speaking to reporters before the Super Bowl, Travis shared how special it was to have his brother rooting for him during the big game.

“At the end of the day were both our biggest fans and it’s been that way since we were kids,” he said.

Jason announced his retirement from football in March 2024

Jason Kelce on the Eagles’ sideline.SCOTT WINTERS/ICON SPORTSWIRE VIA GETTY

On a Feb. 15, 2023, episode of their podcast, New Heights with Jason and Travis Kelce, Jason admitted he wasn’t sure if he’d play another season.

“Man, I can’t answer that right now. No chance,” he said when discussing retirement. “We’ll answer that soon enough, I guess. I don’t know the answer to that right now. So I can’t answer it.

The Eagles center ultimately decided to return to the Eagles for another season, but after the team lost to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the playoffs, Jason reportedly told his teammates he had played his final game.

As it turned out, the rumors that Jason would be retiring were true. On March 4, 2024, Jason announced that he was walking away from his career as a professional player during a press conference held at the Philadelphia Eagles Training Center.

“Stepping on the field was the most alive and free I had ever felt. It was a visceral feeling with football unlike any other sport,” he said.

He mentioned his brother during his emotional speech, saying, “We won countless Super Bowls in our minds, before even leaving the house.”

Noted Eagles fan Victor Frankenstein couldn’t have created a more perfect creature than Jason Kelce.

Last week the 13-year veteran Philadelphia Eagles center retired with a nearly hour-long retirement speech that was at times funny, poignant, heartfelt and profane. In short, everything a Philadelphia Eagles legend should be.

Kelce took to the stage of the auditorium that serves as the team’s primary meeting room wearing a sleeveless Eagles workout top, shorts and flip flops over freshly taped ankles. No business attire, no formal wear, no artifice, just Kelce as Philadelphia has come to know him.

Days later, the reason Kelce had his ankles taped came to light. The explanation is pure Kelce, mostly because it was not shared by Kelce.

Eagles associate athletic trainer Joe O’Pella taped Kelce’s ankle for the news conference because he had missed the opportunity to be in his accustomed role of taping Kelce’s ankles for the NFC Wildcard game in Tampa. The game turned out to be the final time Kelce would suit up as an Eagles player.

O’Pella had taped Kelce’s ankles and thumbs countless thousands of times throughout his 13-year career. O’Pella was absent from Tampa due to radiation and chemotherapy treatments after a recent cancer diagnoses.

Kelce made it a point to include his close friend and confidant in his final official act as an Eagles player.

That small detail came from O’Pella himself. Because it had to.

As much as Kelce, his mother Donna and father Ed, his brother Travis, and his brother’s international superstar girlfriend have dominated the media landscape this NFL season. As transparent as Travis and Jason are on their weekly New Heights Podcast. As open and honest as Kelce is, the little things most people don’t know about him would make fans love him even more.

After Kelce spoke for the cameras, he took the time to individually thank every member of the media present, many who first met Kelce as an undersized, unheralded sixth-round rookie chosen with the 191st pick of the draft.

It was a heady time. The Eagles signed a dizzying array of free agent talent that would eventually become known as the “Dream Team” at first excitedly, then later derisively once the season cratered. Kelce earned the starting assignment that first season and never gave up that role.

Kelce has a natural understanding for both this city and its fans. He understood, immediately, the role reporters have as the window for the fans into the Eagles’ locker room. Kelce is unfailingly patient, generous and most importantly honest in giving his time and his answers.

Even unfamiliar reporters who may have been occasional visitors to the locker room were treated respectfully. Through it all, Kelce showed an unusual intelligence, grace and generosity that was and is entirely genuine.

Every person who looks at Kelce’s public persona and thinks he’d be a fun guy to hang out with is more right than you’d know. Kelce isn’t as fun as he seems like he’d be. He’s more fun.

Kelce would become a fixture at the Pro Bowl and was named first team All-Pro — the best center in the NFL — six times in his final seven seasons. Kelce retires at the very top of his game, on his terms, with his legacy intact.

The undersized former University of Cincinnati walk-on from suburban Ohio has become the face of the Eagles and this city. Get used to him. He is as much a part of Philly as the Mummers Parade and a cracked bell.

Lisa Lake/ Getty Images

Jason Kelce is ready for retirement after 13 years in the NFL.

“So, this all brings us here to today,” he said during a March 2024 press conference. “Where I announce that I am retiring from the NFL after 13 seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles.”

Jason’s family was in attendance at the event. Travis Kelce teared up as he watched his older brother bid farewell to the Eagles organization. The former center gave his brother, their parents, Donna and Ed Kelce and his wife Kylie Kelce, shout-outs in his speech.

The decision came two months after rumors spread that he was going to hang up his jersey following the Eagles loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in January 2024. Following the defeat, Jason shared an emotional moment on the sidelines with Kylie.

In the documentary, Kelce, which was released in September 2023, Jason and Kylie discussed his potential retirement.

Everything Philadelphia Eagles Center Jason Kelce Has Said About His Potential NFL Retirement

“There have been little things … not big things yet but are going to turn into big things the longer I play,” Jason shared in the documentary.

In a confessional, Kylie shared that the injuries that Jason suffers on the field also affect his life at home. The pair share three daughters.

“I don’t think people realize the beating you’re taking then impacts the way you interact with your family,” she explained at the time. “I always tell people that no matter what happens with football, how it ends, I would like him to retire when he’s still able to get down on the floor and play with our kids comfortably.”

Keep scrolling to see what else the Kelce family has said about Jason’s retirement through the years:

Kylie Kelce

Jason Kelce and Kylie Kelce. Lisa Lake/Getty Images for Prime Video
“He’s been telling me for years that he was going to retire, and now, we are expecting our third daughter,” Kylie explained in their documentary Kelce.

During her January 2024 appearance on Good Morning America, Kylie shared that she has Jason’s back no matter what he decides to do.

“I think that it would be unhealthy to always be asking, ‘What if? What if I continued? What if I played one more season?’” she said. “I think that whatever he does, he’s going to be successful in.”

Donna Kelce

“You don’t want to tell somebody this is what you should do with your life and your career because it may come back to haunt you later on,” Jason’s mom explained to Fox News in November 2023. “As a parent, you don’t want your children not wanting to talk to you or just to think that you’re interfering too much. I think that’s basically it.”

She continued: “They know the pros and the cons, they’re very aware of how their body feels after the season’s over. They can decide what’s going to be better: having another year out there or not knowing what you want to do. It’s just a personal decision, and nobody can make it for them.”

Donna Kelce is seen on the ‘Today’ show on October 6, 2023 in New York City. Gotham/GC Images

Ed Kelce

Courtesy of Ed Kelce/Instagram
“I don’t think he ever expected to be playing 12 years and in the off season he is wrapped up in those little girls so I don’t know where this will go,” Jason’s dad Ed shared on Ross Tucker’s podcast in February 2023. “There’s a little bit of a sour taste in his mouth right now that says, ‘You gotta get back there and fix this.’”

Nearly a year later, Ed revealed what it would take for him to believe Jason was really hanging up his cleats.

“I’ve always said, Jason will quit when he’s determined that he’s had enough. I think we may be there. I don’t have inside information. He talks as if he’s retiring,” Ed said during a January 2024 appearance on the “Baskin & Phelps” podcast. “As Kylie, his wife says, she’ll believe it when he gets up in front of a podium and announces to everyone, ‘I’m retiring.’ And that’s that. I’ll know he’s retiring when he starts to lose weight.”

Ed explained that linemen like his son are “very health conscious” individuals. “As soon as they decide to retire from the game, they shed a ton of weight,” he added. “Once that happens, you’re not coming back.”

Travis Kelce

Travis Kelce Maddie Meyer/Getty Images
“You mention the documentary and how it’s supposed to be a retirement thing, a lot of that footage is from the past three years,” Travis, who is two years younger than Jason, shared on the Pat McAfee Show in September 2023. “He’s been thinking of retiring for a while. But winning helps you stick around. Jason’s still eyeing retirement, but as long as the Eagles are still playing, and are willing to pay him as one of the best Centers in the league, I think he’ll still be.”

After rumors of Jason’s retirement swirled at the end of the 2023 season, Travis shared in January 2024 that he thinks his brother still has “some football left” as long as he wants to keep playing.

The family of five enjoyed fun and laughs in their new playroom, with pieces from Pottery Barn Kids

Jason and Kylie Kelce are debuting their recently redesigned playroom, a collaboration with Pottery Barn Kids
The NFL star and his wife are parents to three little girls — Bennett, 11 months, Elliotte, 2½, and Wyatt, 4
The couple will head to Super Bowl LVIII next week in support of Jason’s brother, Travis Kelce, as the Kansas City Chiefs take on the San Francisco 49ers

Jason Kelce and Kylie Kelce are all about giving their kids a fun and functional place to explore their imaginations.

The Philadelphia Eagles center, 36, and his wife could be seen playing with their three girls — Bennett, 11 months, Elliotte, 2½, and Wyatt, 4 — enjoying their recently redesigned playroom, courtesy of Pottery Barn Kids.

Wyatt Kelce hugs giraffe as Jason Kelce laughs next to her.

COURTESY OF POTTERY BARN KIDS

The photos show the family having a blast in their upgraded space. Wyatt is laughing hard as she hugs the neck of a giant stuffed giraffe, while Jason is sporting an identical grin on the couch next to her.

Kylie tells PEOPLE exclusively, “Jason is emotionally and mentally present for his girls, and I think that’s so important.”

Jason Kelce enjoying a tea party with daughter Ellie.

COURTESY OF POTTERY BARN KIDS

The NFL player is a very hands-on dad, as seen in another sweet photo where he enjoys a tea party with Ellie.

“The memories that we’re creating now are things that we’ll talk about later, the same way our parents tell stories about us now,” the mom of three shares. “We hope that this space allows for the girls to be a good team together.”

Jason Kelce reading with daughters Wyatt and Elliotte while Kylie Kelce reads with daughter Bennett.

COURTESY OF POTTERY BARN KIDS

In other photos, Ellie peers in a basket full of picture books, with the family’s big book collection on display on the shelves, in the Cameron Cubby & Cabinet Wall System.

The family enjoys some reading time together in another shot, where they cuddle together on the couch while Jason and the older girls read one book and Kylie reads to Bennie, propped up on her lap.

Elliotte Kelce peers into book bin.

COURTESY OF POTTERY BARN KIDS

“My hope for the three girls is that they get along for the most part, and that they recognize that family is everything,” Kylie tells PEOPLE, looking ahead at what the dynamic between the three girls will be like.

“It’s who you come home to,” she adds. “It’s home.”

Jason Kelce puts down drawing paper for daughters Elliotte and Wyatt.

COURTESY OF POTTERY BARN KIDS

Both of the older girls cheer in another shot, where Jason sets up drawing paper for them.

Meanwhile, Bennie is enjoying exploring her own little corner of the playroom, standing at the pretend sink in the Chelsea All-in-1 Toddler Play Kitchen with Mom clapping at her pretend play.

Kylie Kelce playing with daughter Bennett.

COURTESY OF POTTERY BARN KIDS

“Family is everything. It’s really important to have this space feel cozy and comfortable. We feel like the items are made with such great quality, whether it’s storage, a bookshelf, or something great that will look amazing in the space but also be kid-durable,” Kylie said in a statement about the partnership.

“Shockingly enough we are big fans of green,” she joked. “This beautiful sage was able to be incorporated both in the kids’ kitchen, accent wall, and also in this awesome tree rug.”

The Kansas City Chiefs tight-end got a laugh out of his brother’s family holiday card shoot

Travis Kelce loves seeing what his three nieces are up to.

On Friday, sister-in-law Kylie Kelce posted footage on Instagram sharing a behind-the-scenes look at the family’s 2023 holiday card photo shoot in partnership with Minted.

“❤️❤️❤️ This just made my day!” the proud uncle, 34, commented on the video, which shows Jason Kelce and his wife giving sideline-style commentary on what it takes to wrangle their three daughters — Bennett, 8 months, Elliotte, 2, and Wyatt, 3,

“This is our fourth season with Minted,” Kylie shares.

Jason shakes his head, saying, “It’s gonna be a long season. You can tell.”

As Kylie reminds the girls to keep their “hands to ourselves” and “turn around,” Jason tries to keep the kids and dogs in place.

“I am prepared for football. I am not prepared for the holiday season,” he says.

Kylie adds, “Preparation was making sure that we had a nutritious breakfast … because we were about to bribe the livin’ daylights out of these children.”

As they prepare for different shots, Ellie can be seen sitting with her dad and enjoying a donut as Kylie notes, “It’s an endurance game.”

Jason Kelce’s 2023 family holiday card with Minted.

MEGAN CASH FOR MINTED

Speaking with PEOPLE about the holiday shoot, Kylie shared, “Jason and I definitely, it’s definitely a joint effort to wrangle our children. There’s all hands going out to grab whoever we can, to make sure that we can keep them as close as possible.”

She added, “We had a few photos this year with the dogs which just adds a whole new level of challenge.”

Ahead of the 2023 Super Bowl — in which the Kelce brothers faced off against one another — Jason’s wife Kylie told PEOPLE that Travis is the “absolute best” uncle to her girls.

Jason Kelce, Donna Kelce, and Travis Kelce with Elliotte and Wyatt.

JASON KELCE/INSTAGRAM

“It’s very funny, Jason said in an interview that he thinks [the girls] might like him more than they like Jason,” Kylie joked.

“I tell everybody, he comes to our house to visit and the poor guy doesn’t sit on the couch because our daughters will be like, ‘No, no, you sit on the floor. We’re gonna do a puzzle. We’re gonna build blocks. We’re gonna do this, we’re gonna do that,’” she added.

“Our oldest, she’s our boss. She’s our ring leader, and she just has demand after demand for him. And I’m like, ‘Trav, you know you can tell Wyatt no?’”

“He was like ‘Yeah, I don’t think I can.’ And so he will do it,” she shared.

“She’ll be like, ‘Jump up and down.’ He’ll do it. ‘Roll on the floor,’ he’ll do it. ‘Be the pony.’ He’ll do it. So he’s all-in when it comes to being an uncle. He is the epitome of an uncle, just through and through.”