Jason Kelce made it clear he was rooting for the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl 59 despite his younger brother Travis Kelce playing for the Kansas City Chiefs.
The elder Kelce spent his entire 13-year NFL career with the Eagles, so his allegiance wasn’t a major surprise. Still, he admitted in a social media post Tuesday he felt ‘a lot of emotions’ watching Philadelphia’s 40-22 blowout win.
‘That game was odd for me to watch if I’m being completely honest,’ Kelce wrote in a statement posted to X (formerly Twitter).
Kelce detailed that he expected to feel ‘mixed emotions’ during Sunday’s contest but still wasn’t ready for the full impact of those.
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‘I now know what my parents had to deal with two years ago,’ Kelce wrote. ‘On one hand, I wanted what is best for my brother and to see his success. And on the other hand, there are so many people, teammates, and coaches, in the Philadelphia Eagles organization that I care deeply about, Many of whom I owe my own success to throughout my career.’
Kelce went on to congratulate the Eagles, specifically mentioning quarterback Jalen Hurts and coach Nick Sirianni while expressing his pride in the team as a whole.
‘They have persevered greatly, answered their critics amazingly, and proved themselves to be undoubtedly the best team this season,’ Kelce said of the Eagles. ‘It is extremely difficult for a team in the NFL to have enough talent, coaching, fortune, and character to win a Super Bowl. The character and swagger of this Eagles team was something truly special to behold. A true representation of the toughness and grit that makes Philadelphia what it is.’
Despite feeling joy for the Eagles, Kelce also felt bad for his brother after the Chiefs’ three-peat bid came up short.
‘There isn’t a person I love or care about more,’ Jason said of Travis. ‘It has been tough to process these feelings, of course I feel for him and am always rooting for him, but I know he does not need, nor want my pity. He has amassed greatness few on this planet could ever dream of, as has his team, and they should feel pride in their accomplishments this season and in the past.’
The elder Kelce knows about dealing with disappointment on the NFL’s biggest stage. His Eagles lost to the Chiefs in his second and final Super Bowl appearance in 2023. Kelce was forced to grapple with that defeat after the season and while contemplating retirement after Philadelphia’s early playoff exit in 2024.
As such, he had a simple message to his brother and the Chiefs.
‘I know right now they are still thinking of last night and the shortcomings in the last game,’ Kelce said. ‘But in time that will fade, and the greatness they have exhibited as a group will remain as one of the most dominant eras of football ever.’
