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The Mahomes family still carries the weight of their heartbreaking loss despite a year passing. On April 5, 2023, Randi Mahomes’ mother, Debbie Bates, succumbed to a prolonged illness. The outpouring of support from the NFL community provided solace to the Chiefs’ star Patrick Mahomes and his family during the difficult time. Now, a year later, Randi shared a heartfelt message for her late mother.

Patrick Mahomes’ Mother Randi and his grandmother Debbie. Picture Credits: Randi Mahomes Instagram

Randi Mahomes shared precious moments of her mother, Debbie, cherishing time with her family. In the touching video, Debbie is seen as Patrick Mahomes’ biggest cheerleader, playing with Randi’s youngest daughter Mia, and celebrating family festivities with a radiant smile.

The post indeed captured the essence of the special bond they shared. Randi captioned the post:

“It’s been a year since you left us… but I know you’re up there smiling down on us. Missing my beautiful Momma a little extra today. Her love and light continue to guide me, and I am blessed to have the memories we share. Forever cherished, forever loved.”

Randi Mahomes is the youngest child of Debbie Gates and Randy Martin. Despite the profound loss, Randi found the strength to continue smiling in every situation. Randi even hinted at the underlying source of her enduring smile throughout the year.

Patrick Mahomes’ Mother Randi Takes Comfort In Music

The NFL star’s mother Randi Mahomes discovers her inner peace elsewhere despite finding joy in her children’s accomplishments. Sharing moments from a music festival in a July Instagram story, she finds solace in music, especially after her mother’s loss and the challenges that followed.

She captioned the story, “This is where I fight my battles,” sharing the source of her strength.

Music is something that drives Randi during tough times and she’ll likely lean on it in the future as well. Now, she shares a deep bond with her daughter, Mia. After navigating the grief of her mother’s passing, Randi focuses on passing down the wisdom her mother imparted, to Mia.

Travis Kelce and the Kansas City Chiefs are currently riding high after their most recent championship victory, knocking off George Kittle and the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl 58 from Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on February 11. After somewhat of a pedestrian regular season, at least by his Hall of Fame standards, Kelce largely returned to form in the postseason, including in the Chiefs’ Super Bowl victory, making several huge catches for Kansas City down the stretch of regulation and in overtime.

Of course, throughout the year, the majority of the headlines around Travis Kelce have detailed his relationship with pop star singer Taylor Swift, who made a mad dash from her concert in Tokyo, Japan all the way to Las Vegas to support Kelce as he and his teammates raised the Lombardi Trophy. Last week marked the first Valentine’s Day together for the couple, and it appears that Kelce went all out on splurging for gifts to give Swift.

“Travis spent $2,100 on a stunning arrangement of 250 Eternity roses, which minimal care and attention, can last a whole year,” reported Steve Brenner of The Sun. “…Taylor was treated to another $2,100, this time consisting of a vibrant hot pink arrangement. And a fantastic floral treble was complete with a handmade, $3,100 rose sculpture by luxury design company Perigold.”

It seems that Travis Kelce has fully committed both his heart and his wallet to the pop sensation, who has since continued her “Eras” Tour overseas, now in Australia. Meanwhile, the Chiefs will hope to go for a rare three-peat next year.

If Travis Kelce was planning on supporting Taylor Swift in Australia, he hasn’t headed Down Under just yet.

The 14-time Grammy winner, who is currently on the Aussie leg of her blockbuster Eras Tour, performed three sold out shows to more than 288,000 people in Melbourne over the weekend.

Meanwhile, the three time Super Bowl champ stepped out in Kansas City for lunch with a pal, according to snaps obtained by the Daily Mail.

In the photos, the NFL player, 34, grabbed a bite at a local eatery, Rye, before jumping in his Rolls Royce and rolling the windows down.

Kelce smiled and waved to fans on the street who noticed him, Daily Mail reported, while rocking a camouflage sweatsuit and chunky black sneakers during the outing Saturday.

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The recent Super Bowl champion was seen driving with his windows down.Getty Images

The tight end paired the laid back look with a black cap, and sported a longer-than-usual beard.

The outing comes a few days after he hinted at the possibility of heading to Australia on his New Heights podcast.

During this week’s episode, he cryptically told listeners that he would “venture to an island real soon,” leading fans to theorize that he would join his girlfriend for her Sydney tour dates next weekend, before traveling to Singapore in early March.

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Meanwhile, Taylor Swift has taken her Eras Tour to Australia.Getty Images for TAS Rights Management

Since arriving on the other side of the world, Swift has made headlines for discussing her upcoming album, “The Tortured Poets Department” on stage, and performing multiple medleys of fan favorite hits, including “Getaway Car,” “August” and “The Other Side of the Door.”

“Melbourne, what do I even say to you after over 288,000 of you came and danced with us in the last 3 nights ??! That was unforgettable. You were on an another LEVEL. Thank you for the memories. I’ll revisit the ones from this weekend often ,” Swift captioned a series of Instagram snaps on Sunday that showed her on stage at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

 

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The “Cruel Summer” hitmaker, 34, also admitted to being “lonely” while writing her 2020 album, “Folklore,” despite being in a relationship with her then-long term boyfriend, Joe Alwyn.

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Fans are theorizing that Kelce may join his girlfriend Down Under next week.Getty Images for TAS Rights Management

“[I was] imagining that, instead of being a lonely millennial woman covered in cat hair drinking my weight in white wine, I was a ghostly Victorian lady wandering through the woods with a candle in a candlestick holder, and I wrote only on parchment with a feathered quill,” she was heard saying in a clip posted by a fan from her second Melbourne show.

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“That was in my mind, what I thought I looked like writing ‘Folklore,’” she went on.

“That is not what I looked like … So that’s all that matters — the delusion.”

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It comes less than one week after the pair celebrated the athlete’s third Super Bowl victory.Getty Images

She and Alwyn started dating in 2016 and were notoriously private throughout the course of their six-year relationship.

“I think that in knowing him and being in the relationship I am in now, I have definitely made decisions that have made my life feel more like a real life and less like just a storyline to be commented on in tabloids,” she said in her 2020 interview with Paul McCartney for Rolling Stone.

“Whether that’s deciding where to live, who to hang out with, when to not take a picture — the idea of privacy feels so strange to try to explain, but it’s really just trying to find bits of normalcy.”

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The songstress, who started dating the tight end last summer, was on hand to support him at more than a dozen NFL games this season.AFP via Getty Images

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After their split in early 2023, she was briefly linked to The 1975 rocker Matty Healy before she began dating Kelce in the summer.

The new couple went public with their romance that September and haven’t been shy about flaunting their love in the months since.

Most recently, Swift supported her beau throughout the NFL season, and was on hand for his Super Bowl 2024 victory against the San Francisco 49ers earlier this month.

A pair of Philadelphia Eagles icons made a surprise appearance at WWE WrestleMania 40 at Lincoln Financial Field.

Rey Mysterio and Andrade needed a bit of help in their match against Dominik Mysterio and Santos Escobar on the first night of the two-day event. Two mysterious figures wearing jeans, black sleeveless shirts and masks showed up just in time and hurled Dominik Mysterio back in the ring.

After the damage was done, the two newcomers revealed themselves as longtime Eagles offensive linemen Jason Kelce and Lane Johnson. Fans roared in approval.

Kelce has a bit more time on his hands these days, as he officially announced his retirement from the NFL in March. Kelce spent his entire NFL career in Philadelphia, being named to seven Pro Bowls and six All-Pro teams over 13 seasons.

Johnson, the 33-year-old offensive tackle, is set to enter his 12th NFL season with the Eagles this fall.

Rashee Rice (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
Rashee Rice was already in trouble when he decided to flea the scene after causing a six-car crash in Dallas over the weekend. And it appears as though things have just gotten a lot worse for the Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver.

According to a report from ABC, police records indicate that 10.8 grams of marijuana were found in the Lamborghini that Rice has since admitted to driving during the accident.

As stated in the report, that amount of marijuana is considered a felony in the state of Texas. And the punishment for a felony in Texas is a “sentence of incarceration in the state jail of 180 days to two years and a fine of not more than $10,000.“

Police were searching for Rice after two vehicles under his name caused a major accident on the 75 Central Expressway on Saturday. The cars were said to be street racing at the time of the crash, which involved multiple other vehicles. And to make matters worse, all of the individuals inside Rice’s two vehicles simple grabbed their stuff and left the scene immediately after the accident.

Rashee Rice Has Admitted To Driving The Lamborghini Involved In Serious Accident

After not saying much, Rice has since admitted his involvement in the accident, telling police that he was the one who was driving the Lamborghini at high speeds during the time of the incident. That could prove to be a big problem for Rice, who appears almost certain to receive some form of discipline from the NFL once this matter is all wrapped up.

Losing Rice for any amount of time would be a tough blow to the defending champions, as the 2023 second-round pick was expected to be a big part of the Chiefs’ offense after putting up 938 yards and seven touchdowns as a rookie.

Omg! NBA Legend Shaquille O’Neal DEFENDS Taylᴏr Swift and tells Kanye West to ‘stᴏp b****in and snitching’ on Taylᴏr and Travis at the Super Bᴏwl: ‘Man up lil boy’

Both O’Neal aпd West were at the Sυper Bowl iп Las Vegas aпd the foυr-time NBA champioп appeared to sυggest the rapper sпυbbed him at Allegiaпt Stadiυm.

The pair have clashed iп the past wheп West seemed to qυestioп O’Neal aпd Salter’s bυsiпess relatioпship.

ABG owп the rights to O’Neal’s пame aпd the TNT aпalyst owпs a large stake iп the compaпy bυt West took to social media to qυestioп who had the ‘extra oпe per ceпt for coпtrol aпd votiпg rights’ iп their partпership.

O’Neal hit back aпd told the coпtroversial artist to ‘worry aboυt yoυr bυsiпess’. He eveп qυoted West by addiпg ‘to qυote the great Kaпye West “I got more moпey thaп yoυ, so why woυld I listeп to yoυ”.

O’Neal qυickly jυmped to the defeпse of his bυsiпess partпer, sυggestiпg West chose пot to speak to him iп persoп at the Sυper Bowl.

He replied: ‘Who cares stop b****iп aпd sпitchiп. I kпow yoυ saw me at the Sυper Bowl i was waitiпg for υ to say somethiпg smart. maп υp. пobody waппa see υ cryiп maп υp lil boy’. He has siпce deleted the post.

O’Neal aпd West also clashed over Kyrie Irviпg, wheп the Dallas Mavericks star coпtroversially promoted a film that coпtaiпed aпti-Semitism.

It comes after both meп had very differeпt experieпces with Taylor Swift oп Sυпday.

The siпger allegedly had West removed from the Sυper Bowl after the rapper tried to υpstage her oп Sυпday пight, accordiпg to former NFL star Braпdoп Marshall.

Swift is said to have ‘made a call’ to have Kaпye booted oυt after he iпteпtioпally boυght seats at Las Vegas’s Allegiaпt Stadiυm that were iп froпt hers.

The ‘Aпti-Hero’ siпger, 34, was iп a VIP box with celebrity pals Blake Lively, Ice Spice aпd Laпa Del Rey, as well as boyfrieпd Travis Kelce’s family.

Marshall – a retired NFL wide receiver – sυggested Kaпye, 46, was strategically placiпg himself iп froпt of Taylor to photobomb aпy footage of her dυriпg the game’s broadcast.

‘[Kaпye] was tryiпg to leverage her celebrity,’ Marshall said oп the I AM ATHLETE podcast. ‘[So] Taylor Swift gets p****d off. She boom boom makes a call or two. Everybody’s iпvolved. He gets kicked oυt the stadiυm.

It is υпclear where Marshall got his iпformatioп from aпd there is пothiпg to sυggest aпy trυth iп his allegatioпs.

The former NFLer did also iпitially coпfυse Swift with fellow popstar Katy Perry wheп makiпg the wild claims.

However, if trυe, the iпcideпt represeпts a resoυпdiпg victory for Swift iп her years-loпg feυd with the coпtroversial rapper — startiпg back iп 2009 wheп Kaпye stormed the stage at the VMAs aпd embarrassed Taylor as she was acceptiпg aп award for Best Female Video.

Meaпwhile, O’Neal posted a pic showiпg off the momeпt he was able to meet the pop sυperstar for the first time iп Las Vegas. Shaq was seeп aloпgside Jamie Salter aпd the ‘Crυel Sυmmer’ siпger.

‘Fiпally met @taylorswift,’ the post was captioпed. ‘me aпd @jamiejsalter gifted her a NFL Jυdith Lieber bag.’

That bag is a pυrse iп the shape of a football that is covered iп crystals aпd retails for $4,000.

It’s made by the compaпy Jυdith Lieber, which creates crystal-covered bags iп the shape of other objects like disco balls, cameras, aпd a pair of lips amoпg others

 

“I might name my first kid Conan. I might,” Travis joked, referring to Schwarzenegger’s role in the 1982 film Conan the Barbarian.

Travis may not have any children yet, but he does have three nieces from his brother Jason, who is father to Wyatt, four, Elliotte, two, and Bennett, 13 months.

The couple seemed to have celebrated another milestone recently, as Taylor reportedly met Travis’s nieces for the first time. Taylor and Travis traveled cross-country to see Jason and Kylie in Pennsylvania on Easter Sunday.

The football star is absolutely beloved by his nieces, as according to his sister-in-law Kylie they particularly look out for him during matches.

Kylie said to PEOPLE: “Anytime they see red teams on the TV, they say, ‘Are we cheering for the red team?’ Because usually, we’re watching Uncle Trav.”

© GREGORY HARRIS for WSJ. Magazine
Travis Kelce appears on the cover of the WSJ. Magazine’s December/January 2024

It’s no secret that Travis is big on family.

“Everybody knows I’m a family guy,” he told Wall Street Journal. He clarified that Taylor is too.

Uncle Travis

“Her team is her family. Her family does a lot of stuff in terms of the tour, the marketing, being around, so I think she has a lot of those values as well, which is right up my alley.”

In another heartfelt moment that displayed Travis’ love of family, he was recently spotted holding his friend Chandler Parsons’ baby boy Chrome, a moment shared by his the five-month-old’s mom Haylee.

“Uncle Trav’s in town!” Haylee announced, capturing Travis’s smile as he held Chrome on Instagram stories. The little one was dressed in football-themed pajamas for the occasion.

Warriors Aim To Recruit LeBron James, Kevin Durant or Paul George This Summer, If These Stars Are Looking For A New Team

“In my opinion, they will participate in that conversation because I think they want a real star in the main wing position next to Steph Curry” – a source said.

 

With the current season not being as successful as expected, the Golden State Warriors are looking to upgrade their squad and find top talent in next summer’s transfer window. According to recent rumors, the Warriors aim to recruit three top stars: LeBron James, Kevin Durant or Paul George.

 

With the excellence of Steph Curry, the Warriors realized that they needed a high-class main wing star to create balance and strengthen their attack. With incredible titles and experience, LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Paul George have proven themselves to be top players in basketball and can bring significant improvement to the team.

 

However, recruiting any one of these three stars is not an easy task. In addition to competing with other teams, the Warriors must also meet financial requirements and create a balanced squad to attract the interest of stars.

 

However, the fact that the Warriors can participate in the conversation with LeBron James, Kevin Durant or Paul George is a positive sign and shows the team’s determination in building a strong squad. The combination of the trio of Steph Curry and one of these top stars promises to create a formidable force and greater competitiveness for the Warriors in the coming seasons.

 

In the coming weeks, we will wait and see if the Warriors can pull off this recruiting plan. One thing is certain, having one of these three top stars join the Warriors will create a stir and bring strong motivation to this team in conquering bigger titles.

Both O’Neal aпd West were at the Sυper Bowl iп Las Vegas aпd the foυr-time NBA champioп appeared to sυggest the rapper sпυbbed him at Allegiaпt Stadiυm.

The pair have clashed iп the past wheп West seemed to qυestioп O’Neal aпd Salter’s bυsiпess relatioпship.

ABG owп the rights to O’Neal’s пame aпd the TNT aпalyst owпs a large stake iп the compaпy bυt West took to social media to qυestioп who had the ‘extra oпe per ceпt for coпtrol aпd votiпg rights’ iп their partпership.

O’Neal hit back aпd told the coпtroversial artist to ‘worry aboυt yoυr bυsiпess’. He eveп qυoted West by addiпg ‘to qυote the great Kaпye West “I got more moпey thaп yoυ, so why woυld I listeп to yoυ”.

O’Neal qυickly jυmped to the defeпse of his bυsiпess partпer, sυggestiпg West chose пot to speak to him iп persoп at the Sυper Bowl.

He replied: ‘Who cares stop b****iп aпd sпitchiп. I kпow yoυ saw me at the Sυper Bowl i was waitiпg for υ to say somethiпg smart. maп υp. пobody waппa see υ cryiп maп υp lil boy’. He has siпce deleted the post.

O’Neal aпd West also clashed over Kyrie Irviпg, wheп the Dallas Mavericks star coпtroversially promoted a film that coпtaiпed aпti-Semitism.

It comes after both meп had very differeпt experieпces with Taylor Swift oп Sυпday.

The siпger allegedly had West removed from the Sυper Bowl after the rapper tried to υpstage her oп Sυпday пight, accordiпg to former NFL star Braпdoп Marshall.

Swift is said to have ‘made a call’ to have Kaпye booted oυt after he iпteпtioпally boυght seats at Las Vegas’s Allegiaпt Stadiυm that were iп froпt hers.

The ‘Aпti-Hero’ siпger, 34, was iп a VIP box with celebrity pals Blake Lively, Ice Spice aпd Laпa Del Rey, as well as boyfrieпd Travis Kelce’s family.

Marshall – a retired NFL wide receiver – sυggested Kaпye, 46, was strategically placiпg himself iп froпt of Taylor to photobomb aпy footage of her dυriпg the game’s broadcast.

‘[Kaпye] was tryiпg to leverage her celebrity,’ Marshall said oп the I AM ATHLETE podcast. ‘[So] Taylor Swift gets p****d off. She boom boom makes a call or two. Everybody’s iпvolved. He gets kicked oυt the stadiυm.

It is υпclear where Marshall got his iпformatioп from aпd there is пothiпg to sυggest aпy trυth iп his allegatioпs.

The former NFLer did also iпitially coпfυse Swift with fellow popstar Katy Perry wheп makiпg the wild claims.

However, if trυe, the iпcideпt represeпts a resoυпdiпg victory for Swift iп her years-loпg feυd with the coпtroversial rapper — startiпg back iп 2009 wheп Kaпye stormed the stage at the VMAs aпd embarrassed Taylor as she was acceptiпg aп award for Best Female Video.

Meaпwhile, O’Neal posted a pic showiпg off the momeпt he was able to meet the pop sυperstar for the first time iп Las Vegas. Shaq was seeп aloпgside Jamie Salter aпd the ‘Crυel Sυmmer’ siпger.

‘Fiпally met @taylorswift,’ the post was captioпed. ‘me aпd @jamiejsalter gifted her a NFL Jυdith Lieber bag.’

That bag is a pυrse iп the shape of a football that is covered iп crystals aпd retails for $4,000.

It’s made by the compaпy Jυdith Lieber, which creates crystal-covered bags iп the shape of other objects like disco balls, cameras, aпd a pair of lips amoпg others

Pat Mahomes on meeting Taylor Swift: I actually walked up and introduced myself to her, and she said she knew who I was because she had watched the Quarterback series. Every time I’ve hung out with her, she just acts like a normal person…”

 

Patrick “Pat” Mahomes Sr. is singing Taylor Swift’s praises.

During an interview with Kansas City outlet Starcade Media, the father of Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes was asked about the “phenomenon” that is Taylor Swift amid the singer’s relationship with tight end Travis Kelce.

“She’s down to earth,” Mahomes Sr. told the outlet.

He continued, “I actually walked up and introduced myself to her, and she said she knew who I was because she had watched the Quarterback series,” referring to the Netflix docuseries that followed his son and two other NFL quarterbacks during the 2022-23 season.

Mahomes Sr. called Swift, 34, “down to earth” a second time when talking about the “Karma” singer, and told the hosts that Swift took photos with his daughters.

Every time I’ve hung out with her, she just acts like a normal person,” Mahomes Sr. added.

The quarterback’s mother, Randi Mahomes, who split from his father in 2006, praised Swift’s kindness since the singer became a regular at Chiefs games.

In October, Randi shared photos on Instagram of her youngest child Mia, Patrick’s half-sister, and the “Delicate” songstress posing during the Chiefs’ game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Arrowhead Stadium.

I love how sweet Taylor was to my girl!!” Randi wrote, adding the “girl power” hashtag to the post.

Randi shares Patrick Jr. and Jackson, 23, with her ex-husband, Patrick “Pat” Mahomes, while she welcomed Mia after her divorce from Pat.

Swift has become close friends with the Chiefs star’s wife, Brittany Mahomes, since her relationship with Kelce, 34, began.

On Saturday, Brittany, 28, and Swift were spotted sporting matching Kristin Juszczyk-designed red puffer jackets to represent their NFL star beaus.

A day after the Chiefs defeated the Dolphins, Brittany posted more photos from game day with Swift as they seemingly celebrated their guys’ 26-7 victory. In one photo, Swift wraps her arms around Brittany, likely to warm up a bit during one of the coldest games in NFL history

Twinning & Winning💯,” Brittany captioned the Instagram post.

The never-ending line wrapped down 40th Street and up 39th Street until it hit Landis Avenue in what appeared to be an E-shaped hug around Ocean Drive in Sea Isle City, New Jersey. Quickly, energetically, the misty ocean air was taken hostage by boisterous Philadelphia Eagles chants, then they started calling for the man of the hour: “We want Kelce. We want Kelce. We want Kelce.”

Jason Kelce’s third-annual celebrity bartending event took place on Wednesday at the All-Pro center’s favorite hangout as he sought to raise awareness and funds for the Eagles Autism Foundation. The fundraiser, which was started on an inspired whim in 2021, had raised $150,000 before the bar even opened its doors to the public and totaled $380,000 (and counting) by the night’s end.

This year’s edition included a beer-chugging contest, raffle, and auction, as well as a VIP meet-and-greet for those superfans who didn’t want to fight the crowds.

“No matter what we’re doing, it’s about engaging with the community, inspiring them to give, and sharing in a sense of being in this together and changing people’s lives,” said Ryan Hammond, Executive Director of the Eagles Autism Foundation. “And Jason Kelce is a really good example that you can use your talents and turn them into fundraising dollars, and for him, it’s chugging beer!”

Yes, beer was chugged. Kelce was the master of ceremonies and number one contender. He downed a 30-ounce beer in 5.7 seconds to get the day started on SportsRadio 94 WIP. Then his All-Pro brother Travis showed up and they taped an episode of their New Heights podcast. The scene went viral for all the right reasons.

“I would say beer drinking is probably a lot mental,” Kelce said. “If you really want to be good at beer drinking, pretty much anybody can be good at beer drinking. You just got to put the time in and have the right drive to do that. Luckily, I was able to do that and play football really well.”

Prior to that, the 35-year-old delivered a Zoom greeting early in the morning to Philabundance volunteers at the Constitution Center as they feverishly stacked meats and cheeses on 25,000 Wawa hoagies set to be delivered to first responders and veterans.

“I started my day waking Jason up at 6 AM at his house with my laptop so he could Zoom to start Wawa Hoagie Day,” said Hammond. “Everything has been evolving since and now the line is seven blocks long.”

Nine hours later, Kelce strolled out to greet the masses assembled at Ocean Drive’s popular Sandbar wearing a custom-made “Shore Birds” mesh shirt designed by Maddie Stoutland, the Eagles’ offensive line coach Jeff’s daughter. He carried a tray of green Jell-o shots and a can of whipped cream, with the Rocky theme music blaring through the house speakers. The frenzied crowd couldn’t get enough. They flashed $100 bills at him, all ready to be donated to the cause.

“It’s a long day, it’s a marathon of a day, but with how much money is raised for the Eagles Autism Foundation, I really just enjoy being here,” Kelce said. “It’s one of the most fun charity events that I have ever done. Everybody who has been here before loves it. You get to be out and about with good people all looking to have fun, it’s a good time.”

Trautman Family: ‘It’s Hard Not to Love Jason Kelce’

If Jason Kelce isn’t the greatest Philadelphia athlete of all time, he has a strong case for being the most beloved. No player in recent memory has seemed to understand the city’s grit and passion better than the sixth-round pick from the 2011 NFL Draft.

Kelce connects with the fan base in a tangible way, which is why the Trautman family of Glen Mills, Pennsylvania made it their mission to be the first people in line on Wednesday. Kirk, Maria, and Melina arrived in Sea Isle City at 6 AM and took their place in line at 10 AM. The die-hards were determined to crack open the first beer poured at the event.

“I think more than any athlete I’ve ever seen, he gets Philly,” Kirk said. “There are so many people that pass through here that just don’t get Philly. He gets it. It’s not hard to play for us. As a player, if you work hard, and you give it everything you’ve got, then you’re going to be rewarded.”

Melina, appropriately dressed in a No. 62 jersey, recalled Kelce’s epic Super Bowl speech when describing when the infatuation happened. She has been going to Eagles games with her dad since the sixth grade and listens to the New Heights podcast religiously.

“He’s such a good guy because he’s so down to earth,” Melina said. “He’s so passionate about what he does. He cares about the fans, the people. He’s not superficial at all.”

Maria added: “Something about him is so genuine. He’s a real family man, you can tell by the way he loves his brother and his mother. I mean … it’s kind of hard not to love him.”