Jason Kelce's loyalties split as Eagles face Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX
Just like two years ago, there are split loyalties in Super Bowl LIX for Jason Kelce.
The NFL鈥檚 season finale on Feb. 9 in New Orleans will see his former team, the Philadelphia Eagles, face off against the Kansas City Chiefs, including his brother Travis.
The two teams faced off in Super Bowl LVII, the first championship game ever to feature two brothers playing on opposing squads, with Travis and the Chiefs ending up victorious in Arizona that time.
Jason has since retired but, having spent his whole 13-year playing career with the Eagles, has split allegiances between the two franchises.
And speaking on Wednesday鈥檚 episode of the 鈥淣ew Heights鈥� podcast which he co-hosts with Travis, Jason revealed where his loyalties stand a little over a week and a half away from Super Bowl LIX.
鈥淗ere鈥檚 the biggest thing. Obviously, you鈥檙e my brother. I鈥檒l always root for my brother. That鈥檚 the reality of it,鈥� Jason, wearing an Eagles hat and jacket, explained. 鈥淓ven though I鈥檓 decked out in Eagles gear, I鈥檓 always rooting for Travis.
鈥淏ut, there鈥檚 a lot of people in the Philadelphia organization 鈥� whether it鈥檚 players, coaches, people in the building 鈥� that feel like extended family to me, especially my former offensive linemen. Like (right tackle) Lane Johnson feels like a brother in a lot of ways. I鈥檓 rooting for those guys too. I鈥檓 rooting for Philadelphia and I鈥檓 rooting for Travis Kelce. That鈥檚 the reality of it. Not matter what on game day, I鈥檓 going to be happy for one of those sides and I鈥檓 going to be sad for the other side.鈥�
He also went on to acknowledge the similarities between the last time the two teams played in the Super Bowl, recognizing that it will probably be a 鈥渓ittle bit less intense鈥� as he won鈥檛 be on the field this time.
鈥淚 think it鈥檚 going to be very similar, I really do. I live in Philadelphia, I still go to the facilities on a very regular basis,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 still feel like I am a Philadelphia Eagle and that I鈥檓 a part of all these people who root and cheer our team.
鈥淪o I would be lying if I said I don鈥檛 want the Eagles to win, but I also want Travis Kelce to win. That鈥檚 a long-winded way of saying I just want to see a good football game, whoever wins.鈥�
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Travis suggested Jason needed a half-and-half jumper similar to the one their mother Donna wore to Super Bowl LVII 鈥� with one half the green Eagles and the other the red Chiefs 鈥� but Jason quickly shut down the idea, saying he could not wear red.
When asked about how he鈥檚 feeling in the build-up to his fifth Super Bowl, Travis said he was 鈥渇eeling great.鈥�
鈥淟ife is amazing. It鈥檚 a crazy feeling to be this fortunate in a game that you鈥檝e been playing your entire life, man,鈥� the 35-year-old Chiefs tight end said.
鈥淚鈥檝e had a lot of heartbreak, I鈥檝e had a lot of times where it hasn鈥檛 been this sweet and right now, I鈥檓 just riding the high of living this dream out with my brothers and everybody in Kansas City.鈥�