It’s not every day that an NFL icon tosses a “truth bomb” into MLB conversations—but then again, Jason Kelce has never exactly stayed in his lane. A few years into retirement, and the former Eagles center is still fully plugged into Philadelphia sports, and lately, he’s been eyeing the Phillies’ rocky start with concern—and a little fire.

Fresh off a frustrating 4-3 loss to the Mets, where the Phillies’ bullpen once again couldn’t hold a late-inning lead, fans are feeling the heat. In that game, New York’s Pete Alonso smashed a game-tying homer off José Alvarado in the eighth, and a passed ball in the ninth sealed the deal. The loss marked Philly’s third straight stumble in close games—games they arguably should’ve won. That’s the exact kind of gut-punch scenario Kelce was addressing when he shared his take on SPORTSRADIO 94WIP.

“They need somebody with some gusto,” Kelce said. “Somebody to pop off—it’s gonna piss people off for a day, but then folks go, ‘Whoa… that was the truth we needed.’” He wasn’t being cryptic. He was asking for emotion, edge, and leadership—the kind that doesn’t wait for someone else to say what everyone’s thinking.

This wasn’t just abstract motivation either. Kelce knows the feeling of a season teetering on the edge. Back in his Eagles days, some of their most memorable runs came after ugly starts and brutal injuries. But they had vocal leaders who pulled the team together instead of letting things spiral. And right now, the Phillies look like a team begging for that same spark, whether it’s coming from inside the clubhouse or beyond it.

The loss to the Mets wasn’t a one-off, either. Across the last five games, the Phillies’ bullpen has allowed late leads to slip more than once. Their ERA in the seventh inning or later ranks near the bottom in the league. The energy? Off. The rhythm? Still missing. The need for a shake-up? Yeah, it’s real. And that’s where Kelce’s message really starts to click.

Will Kelce’s message light a fire under the Phillies?

The Phillies haven’t exactly had the start fans were hoping for this season, and their recent games just added more fuel to the fire. Against the Mets, things went south fast, especially in a tough 5-4 loss where the bullpen couldn’t hold it down late in the game. Francisco Lindor smacked two homers, one of them a brutal three-run shot in the seventh inning that totally shifted the momentum. That game wasn’t an outlier either—Philly’s bullpen ERA is among the worst in the league right now, and it’s becoming a trend.

Now, this is where Jason Kelce’s words really start to hit. In that video, he wasn’t just tossing out vague encouragement—he was talking about how these kinds of struggles can actually bring a team closer, if they’ve got the right mindset. He saw it before with the Eagles. And let’s be real, the Phillies are right in that spot right now—facing adversity, dealing with noise, and needing someone to shake things up. Lately, the Phillies’ bullpen has been drawing some heat, and there’s even chatter around the league about whether it’s time to look outside for help—maybe bring in a proven closer to steady things late in games. It’s not just about numbers at this point—it’s about confidence and finding someone who can close the door when the pressure is on. 

And now, the bigger question is what form the spark takes. Is it a bullpen boost? A gritty veteran presence? Or maybe someone already on the roster who just needs the green light to lead a little louder? Either way, the clock’s ticking. And while Kelce’s words come from the world of football, the message cuts across sports: adversity can break you or build you. It’s up to the Phillies which way this goes.