Just like two years ago, Super Bowl LIX is shaping up to be a family affair for Jason Kelce, with his former team, the Philadelphia Eagles, squaring off against his brother Travis' Kansas City Chiefs.
Videos by FanBuzz
In Super Bowl LVII, the two brothers faced off for the first time in NFL history, playing on opposite sides, with Travis and the Chiefs coming out victorious in Arizona. Now, as the Eagles and Chiefs prepare to meet once again, Jason's split loyalties are front and center.
Speaking on the "New Heights" podcast he co-hosts with Travis, Jason offered an honest take on where his loyalties lie ahead of the big game: "Here's the biggest thing. Obviously, you're my brother. I'll always root for my brother. That's the reality of it," Jason said, wearing his Eagles gear. "Even though I'm decked out in Eagles gear, I'm always rooting for Travis."
But Jason also made it clear that his connections to Philadelphia run deep, especially with the people he's grown close to during his 13-year career with the Eagles: "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 offensive linemen. Like (right tackle) Lane Johnson feels like a brother in a lot of ways. I'm rooting for those guys too."
Jason summed up his mixed emotions, saying: "I'm rooting for Philadelphia and I'm rooting for Travis Kelce. That's the reality of it. Not matter what on game day, I'm going to be happy for one of those sides and I'm going to be sad for the other side."
Despite his retirement, Jason still feels a deep connection to the Eagles and the city of Philadelphia. "I live in Philadelphia, I still go to the facilities on a very regular basis," he said. "I still feel like I am a Philadelphia Eagle and that I'm a part of all these people who root and cheer our team. So I would be lying if I said I don't want the Eagles to win, 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, whoever wins."
On the podcast, Travis joked that Jason might need to wear a half-and-half jumper, like their mother Donna did for Super Bowl LVII, with one half in Eagles green and the other in Chiefs red. But Jason quickly shot down the idea, saying he could never wear red.
As for Travis, the Chiefs tight end, who is preparing for his fifth Super Bowl, is feeling confident: "Life is amazing. It's a crazy feeling to be this fortunate in a game that you've been playing your entire life, man," he said. "I've had a lot of heartbreak, I've had a lot of times where it hasn't been this sweet and right now, I'm just riding the high of living this dream out with my brothers and everybody in Kansas City."
