Jason Kelce might have been a force when he was playing for the Philadelphia Eagles. But was his time with the Eagles enough to save him from all the hate that came his way after the biggest game night in the big league where his former team crushed all the hopes his younger brother had? The Eagles literally quashed the Chiefs‘ historic 3-peat winning dreams and laughed in their faces while lifting the Lombardi. But why was the NFL star dragged into a fight that he wasn’t playing in the first place? Why were loyalties questioned when Jason was rooting for the Eagles from dawn till dusk?

During a recent episode of the New Heights podcast, co-hosted by the Kelce siblings – Jason and Travis, a lot of things were put into perspective. Starting with how the former Eagles center Jason revealed the emotional rollercoaster he was riding throughout the final Super Bowl LIX game and the week prior to that.  “It sucks, I knew it was going to be weird going into it. It progressively got weirder as the week went on.” For Jason, it wasn’t just the game day that felt heavy, it was the days leading to that as well.

As the episode progressed, Jason’s true feelings about the Eagles winning the game 40-22 and his younger brother losing were revealed. “On one hand, you played your entire life with an organization and team. A lot of people, in that building, coaches, friends, teammates that you’ve gone through adversity with. And it really, makes you very, very close.” He continued saying, “And then on the other hand you have your brother,” he continued. “I’ve always supported you. I’ve always wanted you to win, and I wanted you to win this game. I thought I made that clear.”

And no, the NFL fans didn’t skip this. Jason faced severe backlash from the fans in the comments, with some writing, “Jason ranting on squirrel while Travis just trying to get through the segment is peak New Heights.” Even some critics side-eyed Jason Kelce with the questions, was he really backing the Eagles, or was he secretly rooting for his brother? As Jason viewed it, he answered, “Fans often view athletes through a singular lens, expecting unwavering loyalty to their team.” Making it clear that just because he bleeds green doesn’t mean he won’t support his own brother. While people kept misinterpreting his stance, Travis reassured his big bro stating, “You made it clear to me.” 

Jason Kelce’s big NFL dilemma as the Eagles clinch the Super Bowl win

Whoever said that living life as an NFL veteran comes easily has truly no idea about what happens inside the hearts and the minds of the players. One moment you are out there sipping your favorite drink while watching a historic record-breaking SB game between your former team and younger brother and the other moment, you are clueless as to how you can process the reality. The morning after the Eagles won, Jason tweeted on X, sharing with the world his inner turmoil, “That game was odd for me to watch if I’m being completely honest”. He was stuck, no matter in which way the game went.

The loyalty to his former team and his brotherly love for Travis found Jason at a crossroads. He expressed, “I knew it was going to be mixed notions before, during, and after, and I now know what my parents had to deal with two years ago.”

This whole ordeal for the older Kelce sibling started when the Eagles faced off against the Chiefs in a high-stakes Super Bowl rematch. Jason, having recently retired after a 13-year-long career with Philly was in a tough spot. The former Eagles star had previously stated that his team loyalty came first, and some fans, and even media personalities, pointed fingers at him. Suddenly, he wasn’t a beloved NFL veteran, as he was dragged into loyalty with team/ family debate.

Jason’s experience shows that the reality is a whole lot more nuanced. The Kelce brothers’ candid chat on their podcast is a perfect example of how athletes channel the tricky dynamics between personal relationships and professional responsibilities. As Jason gave us a glimpse into the human side of pro sports, by opening up about his own journey, reminding everyone that balancing personal loyalty with professional duty is anything but simple.