Jason Kelce

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Jason Kelce
refer to caption
Kelce with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2013
No. 62 – Philadelphia Eagles
Position:Center
Personal information
Born: (1987-11-05) November 5, 1987 (age 34)
Charlotte, North Carolina
Height:6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:295 lb (134 kg)
Career information
High school:Cleveland Heights
(Cleveland Heights, Ohio)
College:Cincinnati
NFL Draft:2011 / Round: 6 / Pick: 191
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
NFL
College
  • 2× Second-team All-Big East (2009, 2010)
Career NFL statistics as of 2021
Games played:159
Games started:159
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Jason Daniel Kelce (/ˈkɛlsi/;[1] born November 5, 1987) is an American football center for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Eagles in the sixth round of the 2011 NFL Draft. He played college football at Cincinnati. Kelce is a Super Bowl champion, five-time Pro-Bowl selection, and four-time first-team All-Pro selection.[2][3]

Early life[]

Kelce grew up in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, the son of Ed, a sales rep in the steel business, and Donna, who works in banking. He is the older brother of Travis Kelce, who became a tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs. He attended Cleveland Heights High School, where he played both running back and linebacker and was twice named All-Lake Erie-Lake League.[4] At Cleveland Heights, he played baritone saxophone in the Symphonic and Jazz Bands.[5]

College career[]

A former walk-on running back, Kelce switched to fullback and then finally to offensive line after redshirting his initial year at Cincinnati, seeing action at center and guard in nine games in 2007 as the Bearcats went 10–3 and defeated Southern Mississippi 31–21 in the PapaJohns.com Bowl.[6]

As a sophomore in 2008, he made 13 starts at left guard, as part of an offensive line that also included future NFL linemen Jeff Linkenbach and Trevor Canfield, which helped the UC offense average 27.3 points and 375.3 yards of total offense per game. The Bearcats went 11–3 overall, were Big East champions, and played in the FedEx Orange Bowl, where the Bearcats fell to Virginia Tech 20–7. His brother, Travis Kelce, began playing alongside him at Cincinnati after he also joined them in 2008.

In 2009, Kelce earned second-team All-Big East honors after starting 13 games at left guard as the Bearcats went undefeated in the regular season (12-0) and were again Big East Champions, once again earning a BCS Bowl berth, losing to Florida 51-24 in the Allstate Sugar Bowl.[7]

He was moved to center for his senior season in 2010 as the Bearcats went 4–8 under new coach Butch Jones. He started the final 38 games of his 47-game Bearcats career, 26 at left guard and 12 at center.[4] He was named Honorable Mention All-America and second team All-Big East.

Professional career[]

Despite lacking "true NFL size", Kelce was projected a fourth- to fifth-round pick.[8] He ran the fastest 40-yard dash time of all offensive linemen at the 2011 NFL Scouting Combine, with a 4.89-second time. On March 11, Kelce had an appendectomy after he was diagnosed with appendicitis.[9]

Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump
6 ft 2+5⁄8 in
(1.90 m) 		280 lb
(127 kg) 		32+1⁄2 in
(0.83 m) 		9+1⁄2 in
(0.24 m)		 4.89 s 1.70 s 2.83 s 4.14 s 7.22 s 30+1⁄2 in
(0.77 m)		 9 ft 2 in
(2.79 m)
All values from 2011 NFL Scouting Combine.[10]

Kelce was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the sixth round (191st overall) of the 2011 NFL Draft.[11] Kelce was unable to practice or sign a contract until the NFL lockout was lifted on July 25, 2011. He signed a four-year contract on July 27.[12] New offensive line coach Howard Mudd envisioned Kelce as in the mold of Indianapolis Colts five-time Pro Bowl center Jeff Saturday, whom Mudd coached in Indianapolis for 11 seasons.[13] First-round pick and fellow rookie Danny Watkins compared Kelce to a hedgehog due to his spiky hair and facial hair, in addition to his quickness and stoutness.[14] Kelce battled incumbent starter Jamaal Jackson for the center job early in training camp in August.[15] Kelce received all of the first-team reps in the week before the team's third preseason game.[16] He started in the third preseason game against the Cleveland Browns, and allowed a sack and was penalized for holding.[17] Despite his performance, Kelce was named the starter for the season on August 29.[18] He became the first rookie in Eagles history to start all 16 games at center.[19]

In 2012, Kelce was named the starting center for the second consecutive year. On September 16, he suffered a partially torn MCL and torn ACL in a win over the Baltimore Ravens. Kelce would miss the rest of the 2012 season.[20]

Kelce had an outstanding 2013 season, starting all 16 games and helping the team reach the playoffs. He helped the Eagles score a team-record 442 points and 6,676 yards. He led the way for the NFL's leading rusher, LeSean McCoy, who rushed for 1,607 yards. Kelce was graded by Pro Football Focus (PFF) as the best center in the NFL for the season.[21] He was also honored with the Ed Block Courage Award.[19]

On February 27, 2014, Kelce agreed to a six-year, $37.5 million contract extension, with $13 million guaranteed, according to agent Jason Bernstein.[22] On September 23, Kelce underwent surgery for a sports hernia and missed four games.[4] Despite missing time, he was selected to his first Pro Bowl.[23]

In 2015, Kelce started in all 16 games. He was graded by Pro Football Focus as the 7th-ranked center in the NFL.[24]

In 2016, Kelce started in all 16 games and was selected to his second Pro Bowl.[25]

Philadelphia Eagles' quarterback Carson Wentz "under center" Jason Kelce in a 2017 game against the Washington Redskins

In 2017, Kelce started in all 16 games and had his best season as a pro. He was selected as a First-team All-Pro and was the highest rated offensive lineman by PFF. He also won Run Blocker of the Year by PFF.[26] He won Super Bowl LII with the Eagles after they defeated the New England Patriots 41–33.[27] During the Eagles' Super Bowl parade on February 8, 2018, Kelce garnered national attention after giving an impassioned speech where he defended his teammates, coaches, and front office and compared Eagles fans to hungry dogs who "for 52 years have been starved of this championship,"[28] while famously dressed up as a mummer.

In 2018, Kelce was given his second First-Team All-Pro honor.

On March 2, 2019, Kelce signed a one-year contract extension with the Eagles through the 2021 season.[29] During the 2019 season, Kelce was elected to his 3rd Pro Bowl and received his 3rd straight First-Team All-Pro Honor.

In 2020, Kelce started his 100th straight game with the Eagles. The offensive line saw a franchise record 14 different starting combinations, but Kelce was the lone man to start every game. He was elected to his 4th Pro Bowl, and was one of the eight finalists for the Art Rooney Award in 2020.[30]

On March 5, 2021, Kelce signed a new deal with the Philadelphia Eagles.[31][32] He was placed on the COVID list on January 3, 2022 and activated four days later, allowing him to keep his consecutive starts streak alive.[33][34] He went in for the team's first offensive snap then was benched for the rest of the game. In 2021, Kelce was selected to his fifth Pro Bowl, marking his third straight selection, and was the Eagles finalist for the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award.[35] He was also named a first-team All Pro by the Associated Press for the fourth time in his career.[36]

On March 11th, after mulling retirement before the 2022 offseason, Kelce signed a new one-year deal with the Eagles worth $14 million, which made him the highest paid center in the NFL.[37]

Personal life[]

He is the older brother of Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce.[38] Jason played hockey in high school while Travis played basketball.[39]

He, along with former Eagle Beau Allen, appeared in the Super Bowl LII-themed episode of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, "Charlie's Home Alone", in Charlie Kelly's imagination.[40]

References[]

  1. ^ Zangaro, Dave (July 16, 2021). "Jason Kelce helps solve recent mystery about pronunciation of last name". NBC Sports Philadelphia. Retrieved September 21, 2021.
  2. ^ "Most important Eagles for 2020: Jason Kelce is the best center in football". RSN. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
  3. ^ "Jason Kelce rated as the most balanced center in NFL". Eagles Wire. June 12, 2019. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
  4. ^ a b c Gowton, Brandon Lee (September 23, 2014). "Kelce expected to return in 6 to 8 weeks". Bleeding Green Nation.
  5. ^ Fitzpatrick, Frank. "Road trip: Eagles Jason Kelce played everything from hockey to the sax". www.inquirer.com.
  6. ^ http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/cinn/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/2014-15/misc_non_event/14_fb_guide.pdf[bare URL PDF]
  7. ^ |
  8. ^ "Jason Kelce". CNN.
  9. ^ Wilson, Aaron (March 11, 2011). "Jason Kelce has successful appendectomy". nationalfootballpost.com. Archived from the original on April 1, 2011. Retrieved September 9, 2011.
  10. ^ "Jason Kelce, DS #5 C, Cincinnati". nfldraftscout.com. Retrieved September 9, 2011.
  11. ^ Fierro, Nick (April 30, 2011). "Eagles go after LB, K in fourth round". The Morning Call. Retrieved September 9, 2011.
  12. ^ "Philadelphia Eagles have reached agreements with all 2011 draft picks except No. 1 Danny Watkins". lehighvalleylive.com. Associated Press. July 27, 2011. Retrieved September 9, 2011.
  13. ^ Rohan, Tim (August 5, 2011). "Eagles rookie Kelce fits Mudd's prototype". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved September 9, 2011.
  14. ^ Bowen, Les (August 8, 2011). "Eagles rookie center Kelce rising to starting status". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved September 9, 2011.
  15. ^ McLane, Jeff and Jonathan Tamari (August 7, 2011). "Harris may be solidifying role as Eagles right tackle". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved September 9, 2011.
  16. ^ Frank, Reuben (August 20, 2011). "Eagles to test rookie Kelce in starting center role". CSN Philly. Archived from the original on January 20, 2013. Retrieved September 9, 2011.
  17. ^ Tamari, Jonathan (August 25, 2011). "Eagles rookies Kelce, Watkins get off to rough start against Browns". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved September 9, 2011.
  18. ^ Frank, Reuben (August 29, 2011). "Eagles name rookie Kelce starting center". CSN Philly. Archived from the original on July 31, 2012. Retrieved September 9, 2011.
  19. ^ a b http://media.philadelphiaeagles.com/media/149931/kelce-jason.pdf[permanent dead link]
  20. ^ Eaglerarian Blog (September 18, 2012). "Kelcie's Season Over; ACL Reconstruction". Philly.com. Retrieved September 18, 2012.
  21. ^ "2013 PFF All-Pro Team - NFL Analysis - Pro Football Focus". www.profootballfocus.com.
  22. ^ "Eagles' Riley Cooper, Jason Kelce strike new contracts". NFL.com.
  23. ^ "2015 Pro Bowl Roster: LeSean McCoy, Darren Sproles among five Eagles players heading to Arizona". BleedingGreenNation.com. December 23, 2015. Retrieved June 13, 2017.
  24. ^ Gowton, Brandon Lee (February 4, 2016). "Eagles Position Review: Jason Kelce played through injury". Bleeding Green Nation.
  25. ^ NJ.com, Matt Lombardo | NJ Advance Media for (January 23, 2017). "Darren Sproles, Jason Kelce added to 2017 Pro Bowl". nj.
  26. ^ Renner, Michael (January 26, 2018). "Philadelphia's Jason Kelce is a road grader and PFF's best run-blocker | NFL News, Rankings and Statistics". PFF.
  27. ^ "Eagles dethrone Tom Brady, Patriots for first Super Bowl title in stunner". USA TODAY. Retrieved February 25, 2019.
  28. ^ Tornoe, Rob. "In epic speech, Eagles' Jason Kelce calls out 'clown' who criticized Doug Pederson". www.inquirer.com.
  29. ^ Bergman, Jeremy (March 2, 2019). "Eagles, Jason Kelce agree to terms on 1-year extension". NFL.com.
  30. ^ "Eight finalists announced for 2020 Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award". NFL.com.
  31. ^ Patra, Kevin (March 5, 2021). "Jason Kelce, Eagles agree to new 2021 deal worth up to $12M". NFL.com. Retrieved March 5, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  32. ^ Spadaro, Dave (March 5, 2021). "Jason Kelce makes it official: He's back for 2021". www.philadelphiaeagles.com. Retrieved March 5, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  33. ^ Oddo, Jillian (January 3, 2022). "Eagles place 12 players on Reserve/COVID-19 list". PhiladelphiaEagles.com.
  34. ^ Bowman, Paul (January 7, 2022). "Eagles Clear Kelce From COVID List". SportsTalkPhilly.com.
  35. ^ Bowman, Paul (December 22, 2021). "Kelce, Slay Named To Pro Bowl". SportsTalkPhilly.com.
  36. ^ Lipinski, Michael (January 14, 2022). "Kelce, Johnson Named to AP All-Pro Teams". SportsTalkPhilly.com.
  37. ^ "Philadelphia Eagles make Jason Kelce highest-paid center in NFL". March 11, 2022.
  38. ^ "Reality is relative: Jason Kelce on screen in brother's new dating show". Philly.com.
  39. ^ "An Interesting Day In The Kelce Household". Philadelphiaeagles.com.
  40. ^ "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia - Full Cast & Crew". IMDb.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)

External links[]

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