Yahoo Sports Jason Kelce on picking a Super Bowl rooting interest between Eagles, Chiefs: 'Whoever wins, I'm going to be happy'
Kelce's brother, Travis, is looking to help the Chiefs win a third consecutive title
Jason Kelce has a deep affection for both teams playing in Super Bowl LIX. On one side is his younger brother Travis, tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs who has been in his life for over 35 years. On the other side are the Philadelphia Eagles, the team he spent 13 years playing for after being a sixth-round draft pick in 2011.
The last time the Chiefs and Eagles met in the final game of the NFL season — Super Bowl LVII in 2022 — Jason Kelce was opposing his brother. Kansas City would ultimately prevail for the second time in four seasons, but the Kelce family was split in who they were supporting.
Now that Jason Kelce is one season retired from the NFL and Travis Kelce and the Chiefs are back in the Super Bowl looking for a third straight title, it might appear that Jason's rooting interest was clear. But it's complicated as he explained on this week's edition of the "New Heights" podcast.
"I'll always root for my brother," Kelce said while wearing an Eagles hat and shirt. "I'm always going to root for Travis. But there's a lot of people in the Philadelphia organization, whether it's players, coaches, people in the building, that feel like extended family to me, especially my former linemen. Like, Lane Johnson feels like a brother, in a lot of ways.
"I'm rooting for those guys, too. I'm rooting for Philadelphia and I'm rooting for Travis Kelce and that's the reality of it. No matter what, on game day I'm gonna be happy for one of those sides and I'm gonna be sad for the other side.
"It's similar to the last time we played [in the Super Bowl], maybe a little less intense because I'm not playing now. I think it's going to be very, very similar, I do. I live in Philadelphia, I still go to the facilities on a very regular basis. I still feel like I'm a Philadelphia Eagle and I'm a part of all of these people that root and cheer on our team.
"I would be lying if I said I don't want the Eagles to win. I want them to. But I also want Travis Kelce to win. That's a long-winded way of saying I just want to see a good football game and whoever wins, I'm going to be happy for that [side.]"
Jason Kelce, who has since been added as a panelist on ESPN's "Monday Night Countdown" to his post-playing career résumé, said that he won't be wearing red during the game on Feb. 9 in New Orleans. Travis Kelce suggested the longtime NFL center sport a half-and-half jersey similar to what their mother Donna wore when the Chiefs and Eagles last met in the Super Bowl. That idea was shot down and Jason said he may settle on something that promotes the brothers' podcast that isn't red or green.