Since LeSean McCoy did it in 2010, 2011, 2013 and 2014. It took the Eagles 8 years to have another 1,000 yard running back. And they did it with 2 different backs in back-to-back seasons.
Once they got that 1,000 yard season from Miles Sanders, he was on his way to Carolina with a $25.4M/4-year contract. And after Sanders’ departure, the Eagles were able to hit a home run in trading for D’Andre Swift, who put up 1,049 rushing yards in his single season with the Eagles, before signing a $24.5/3-year deal in Chicago.
The Eagles have seen both of their last rushers leave the year after setting careers highs. Now the 7th(Swift) and 12th(Sanders) highest paid running backs in the league. The Eagles decided to go a different route.
New Face In The Backfield
Back in March, the Eagles signed their new RB1 to a massive $37.5M/3-year deal.
The Eagles made a move for a running back that rivals the 49ers acquisition (and now extension) of Christian McCaffrey.
Now, the 6-year Giant makes his way to Philly, as the 4th highest paid running back. Soon to play behind what was the #1 ranked Offensive Line in 2023 (per PFF). While the question still remains of how well the Eagles offensive line may be in 2024 without Jason Kelce at Center. Even ProFootballNetwork had the Eagles still at the top spot in their offensive line rankings back in April.
Giants Offensive Line Woes
While PFN had the Giants listed at 23rd following the 1st round of the 2024 NFL Draft, PFF had them ranked dead last at 32nd following the 2023 season, and had them ranked 29th this time last year.
Even with some of the worst ranked OL’s in the league, that hasn’t stopped Saquon Barkley from putting up the following rushing stats
2023 – 962 yards in 14 games 2022 – 1,312 yards in 16 games 2021 – 593 yards in 13 games
With these rushing numbers, Saquon was also putting up plenty of receiving yards, even with the following QBs behind those previously mentioned bottom of the league OL’s
2023 – 280 Rec yards – Tommy DeVito(6) / Tyrod Taylor(5) / Daniel Jones(6) 2022 – 338 Rec yards – Daniel Jones(16) / Davis Webb(1) 2021 – 263 Rec yards – Daniel Jones(11) / Mike Glennon(4) / Jake Fromm(2)
Saquon’s Future
On a new team that already has some of the best talent in the league, Saquon will have plenty of opportunity over the next three season with the Eagles. Finally providing Jalen Hurts a reliable receiving back under a new offensive coordinator with Kellen Moore will give the Eagles another player capable of ending up with an Offensive Player of the Year award.
With training camp and pre-season just a few weeks away, how many yards do you think Saquon will put up in his first year with the Eagles?
Photo Credit: Monica Herndon / Philadelphia Inquirer
June 1 is a noteworthy date on the NFL calendar, generally speaking, as it typically triggers a number of roster moves around the NFL.
Prior to June 1, if a player is cut or traded, any and all dead money, usually in the form of bonus proration, accelerates into the current year, and counts toward the salary cap in the current year. If a player is cut or released after June 1, any bonus proration in future contract years won’t count toward the cap in the form of dead money until the following year.
Are you still here? You haven’t closed this article after that last paragraph? Thanks! Here’s what it means for the Eagles this year.
June 1 releases / retirements
The Eagles like to utilize June 1 releases, so it’s worth knowing a little something about them if you’re into salary cap minutiae. As always, OverTheCap does a great job of explaining them. This year, the Eagles did not release any players with a June 1 designation, but they do have a pair of players in Jason Kelce and Fletcher Cox who will “officially” retire either on June 1 or very shortly thereafter.
How will the remnants of their contracts affect the Eagles’ salary cap going forward? Well, retirements work in a similar way to releases. Normally, if a player is released, whatever guaranteed salary is left on his deal, and any prorated bonus money that has already been paid out to the player will remain on the team’s salary cap. If a player retires, he does not get paid his salary (duh) or any roster bonuses, but any prorated bonus money already paid to the player that has not yet counted toward the salary cap will, you know, count toward the salary cap.
There have been some occasions in which teams have attempted to recoup signing bonus money after a player unexpectedly retired, but that is not going to happen in Kelce’s or Cox’s cases, given their contributions to the team over the last decade.
• Kelce will count for $8,678,000 in dead money in 2024, and $16,438,000 in 2025.
• Cox will count for $4,200,000 in dead money in 2024, and $10,100,000 in 2025.
Trades become more palatable for some players
In 2021, the Atlanta Falcons traded Julio Jones to the Tennessee Titans shortly after June 1, because it meant that they could spread out his dead money over 2021 and 2022, instead of the full amount being applied to 2021. In 2022, the Cleveland Browns traded Baker Mayfield to the Panthers under similar circumstances. We’ll see if the passing of the June 1 barrier spurs trade action around the league.
The one Eagles player who would make sense in a trade is James Bradberry, should the Eagles find a team interested in him. Trading Bradberry instead of releasing him would save them a little over $1 million in guaranteed salary. By waiting until after June 1 to trade him, they would also be able to dump a portion of his dead money hit in 2025, but we’ll get into more of those details if a deal goes down. The Eagles would likely be happy to trade him for a ham sandwich if they could.
How about trade possibilities for outside players?
There were a pair of safeties in Budda Baker and Kevin Byard who were the subjects of Eagles trade rumors around this time last year. They did eventually deal for Byard at the trade deadline. This year there aren’t any players rumored to want off of their current teams who would make sense for the Eagles. One such player might have been Saints CB Marshon Lattimore, but the Eagles won’t be trading for him after selecting cornerbacks with their first two picks in the 2024 draft.
A new year is upon us, and the Eagles have many players who could make a leap forward. The outlook for this year’s squad is optimistic.
Let’s take a look at some players who could have a breakout season.
Jordan Davis
Jordan Davis is entering his third season with the Eagles and is in a position to take a big step forward. With Fletcher Cox’s retirement, the Eagles will look to Jordan Davis for a bigger role.
Davis is young, coming into this season at 24. He has had the benefit of learning behind Cox for two years, and now it’s his time to take over. Davis was seen at the Eagles Autism Challenge, where he looked noticeably thinner.
Davis is a big guy, and his conditioning was always in question. This season, you can tell he is in better shape, and he is ready to embrace the role of a starting defensive tackle.
Cam Jurgens
Jurgens can break out for the same reason Jordan Davis can break out. His predecessor retired. Now that Kelce is gone, Jurgens will start at Center. The Eagles drafted Cam Jurgens, knowing he would be the guy once Kelce retired, and now his time has come. Jurgens played some right guard last year, so it will be interesting to see him transition back to center this upcoming season.
Cam Jurgens has a ton of potential, and the Eagles are looking to him to be their center for the next 5-10 years. As fans, we can’t expect him to be Jason Kelce. Jurgens is his own person, and the hope is that he will be able to play center without having a huge drop-off in talent.
Both Jordan Davis and Cam Jurgens have learned from some of the best players at their positions. It is time for them to step up and fill the roles they were drafted to fill.
Nepotism – noun – the practice among those with power or influence of favoring relatives, friends, or associates, especially by gifting them jobs.
Before Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce was a superstar in the NFL world. The go-to tight end on the Patrick Mahomes-led Kansas City Chiefs, the most recent dominating football franchise since Tom Brady and the New England Patriots.
And sure, Travis Kelce is a nine time Pro Bowler and seven time All-Pro selection with four of those being first team nods. He may hold the record for most consecutive and overall seasons with 1000 receiving yards (seven seasons strong)…but what the heck does Travis Kelce know about acting?
Reports indicate that Travis Kelce will be acting in none other than a Ryan Murphy original. Yes, that Ryan Murphy – the creator of shows like American Horror Story, Dahmer, and Glee…The Ryan Murphy who has 38 Primetime Emmy noms (and six wins), two Grammy’s and a Tony – just cast football professional and boyfriend of Taylor Swift in a scripted television series.
Which TV Show Is Travis Kelce Starring In?
The show is called Grotesquerie, and will also star Niecy Nash-Betts(who previously worked with Murphy on Dahmer) and Courtney B. Vance (who you may recognize from Murphy’s American Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson).
Nash-Betts confirmed the news in an Instagram shortly after People reported Travis Kelce’s premier acting endeavor. She says,
“Guys, guess who I am working with on Grotesquerie?” the actress teased before showing Kelce, who said, “Jumping into new territory with Niecy!”
Judging by the teaser Ryan Murphy shared, a phone call from Niecey Nash warns of something bad happening that only her character can see.
And while Ryan Murphy has a habit of including unlikely stars in his shows (think Kim Kardashian in AHS), Travis Kelce’s inclusion begs a bigger question:
Is Trav the world’s first nepo boyfriend?
After the nepotism baby exposure that led countless celebrities to unnecessarily defend their names, we learned a ton about the state of the industry. Publications like Rolling Stone are riddled with nepo babies whose famed parents landed them the internship. Your favorite actor, singer, model, etc. is most likely a descendant of your mom’s favorite actor, singer, or model.
But the thing is, we already know that Kate Hudson is Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn’s kid. We know Lily Rose Depp’s parents…and the Jenners…and Angelina Jolie…and Miley Cyrus…I could go on. The point is, we didn’t care.
In today’s entertainment industry, it’s hard not to find a nepo baby. But as long as they’re good at what they choose to do, no one cares. Which is why I worry for Travis Kelce.
Travis is the face of brand deals galore. Especially since his New Heights podcast (alongside his brother and fellow NFL icon, Jason Kelce) is the hottest sports podcast on socials right now. Dating Taylor Swift may have been the best thing to happen to the Travis Kelce brand in general, because now he gets to go beyond sports and into bigger realms.
The 34-year-old KC Chiefs’ tight end’s previous TV endeavors include a cringe-worthy dating show called Catching Kelce and hosting Are You Smarter Than A Fifth Grader?
So, yes, the question must be raised: can Travis even act? If we’re being completely honest, I can’t guarantee that answer. Murphy has a way of making any non-actor (see: Kardashian) into a passable star with camp lines and witty delivery…but I’m worried about Kelce.
Let’s all admit that when he began dating Swift, Travis Kelce got catapulted into superstardom as the First Boyfriend of The Era’s Tour… But have we taken it too far by launching an acting career? Is there a time when we should stay in our respective lanes?
I’m all for Travis getting the recognition he deserves..and I think the Kelces are our Royal Family…but I’d rather see a Keeping Up With The Kelces moment than watch Travis potentially fail at acting.
What would make sense? Travis Kelce in couture runway settings, or collaborating with high fashion brands to create exclusive lines. Travis and his family having their own reality show. Expanding their football empire in a number of ways.
What doesn’t really make sense? Casting Travis in Ryan Murphy’s Grotesquerie…but you bet I’ll be tuning in anyway.
The roast of Tom Brady on Sunday night was a divisive blast of entertainment, the kind rooted in a tradition of no-holds-barred insults that can’t be spoken in any other public setting.
Brady made headlines locally for ripping the people of Philadelphia, who have never spared him the humiliation of his defeat against Nick Foles and the Eagles in Super Bowl LII.
“Philly fans are just racist a**holes!” Brady said on the live Netflix special. “But (host) Kevin Hart is from there, so I get it. … In Philly, they have to grease up the light poles so people don’t climb them after games. You know how they grease up those poles? They rub someone from Philadelphia on them.”
Brady’s shots at Philly were pretty tame compared to some of the barbs thrown around during the roast, which went on for more than three hours. He tore into Kim Kardashian, claiming she was fearful of having to leave her kids supervised by unhinged ex-husband Kanye West. And Nikki Glaser, always a viper at roasts, ridiculed Brady’s divorce from supermodel Gisele Bündchen.
“You have seven rings,” Glaser said. “Well, eight now that Gisele gave hers back.”
On Wednesday’s episode of the “New Heights” podcast Jason and Travis Kelce shared their thoughts on the roast.
“I really don’t f***ing get it,” Jason said. “I don’t get why people do roasts. I don’t get why they’re a thing. ‘Ha ha ha ha, yeah, my family’s ruined! It’s so funny! Everyone’s laughing! It’s great! We’re all having fun, right?’”
The brothers considered a hypothetical scenario in which they agreed to be roasted. Travis said he’d want comedians Andrew Santino, Dave Chappelle and Kevin Hart to do the honors.
“I would love Kevin to go up there and just f***ing rip me in half,” he said.
Jason had a different take.
“I would pick people that I would have no problem getting into a fist fight with, like family,” he said. “Like Dad, roast me, but I’m going to beat the f*** out of dad when the camera turns off.”
Jason speculated that two of his former Eagles teammates, Lane Johnson and Darius Slay, would be skilled roasters if given the chance. The brothers agreed Chiefs head coach Andy Reid would excel, but in a wholesome way.
“He would say something that would be hilarious, but it wouldn’t be that offensive,” Jason said.
The one person Kelce would never let on stage to roast him is his wife, Kylie, who knows too much about him.
“Every day I’m getting roasted by Kylie. I don’t need her to go up on stage and do that,” Jason said. He revealed a sword on the podcast that he bought her for their anniversary, maybe suggesting he’d rather she take him down with that than any verbal venom.
The Brady roast has spurred all kinds of think pieces. IndieWire’s Tony Maglio argued that the event shouldn’t have been broadcast live, since some of the unedited footage suggested many of the people there were uneasy about some of the jokes. Afterward, Netflix reportedly edited out the crowd’s booing of Kim Kardashian as she was attempting to tell a joke about Kevin Hart’s height.
At the Washington Post, Sally Jenkins argued the special was misogynistic and that many of the jokes were cruel and cheap rather than funny.
“The uncomfortable truth is that the only person it shamed was (Brady), and not gently,” Jenkins wrote.
Travis said he got a different impression from watching clips of the special, which he wasn’t able to see live.
“I commend everybody because nobody seemed to get their feelings hurt,” he said. “It just looked like everybody was having fun with it.”
There was one joke the Kelce brothers both admired from Nicki Glaser.
“Tom also lost $30 million in (cryptocurrency),” Glaser said. “Tom, how did you fall for that? Even Gronk was like, ‘Me know that not real money.’”
Jason then had a revelation.
“That’s probably why he did the roast,” he said. “It’s just, bam! Alright, I take that back. I’ll do a roast. What’d you guys pay Tom?”
He’s bested Dominik Mysterio at WrestleMania, cruised the Philly area in his new Tesla Cybertruck and lost his Super Bowl ring in a kiddie pool of chili, and now, we know Jason Kelce’s next retirement move: celebrity bartending.
This hobby is actually an old one for the former Eagle, who has slung drinks in Sea Isle City for the past three years to raise money for the Eagles Autism Foundation. He’s set to return for another round at the Ocean Drive bar on Wednesday, June 26.
Kylie Kelce teased the return on her Instagram Story, posting photos tagged at the Yacht Club of Sea Isle City and a short video of an empty bar with the text “IYKYK 6/26.” The Ocean Drive confirmed the date, but further details are not available at this time.
Last year’s event, which included a raffle and auction, raised more than $375,000 for the Eagles Autism Foundation. The slate for the 2024 bash may be TBD, but if past festivities are any indication, you could chug a beer with Kelce — or at least watch him enter the scene with a tray of Jell-O shots and the “Rocky” theme on blast.
Team 62 Fundraiser
Wednesday, June 26 Ocean Drive 3915 Landis Ave, Sea Isle City, NJ
With the first night of WrestleMania XL underway at Lincoln Financial Field in South Philadelphia, it was only a matter of time before some big Philly cameos.
Well, two all-time star athletes joined the fight in All-Pro offensive linemen Jason Kelce and Lane Johnson, going after Dominik Mysterio, son of Rey Mysterio:
Kelce is going to dominate the media scene in retirement, but, hey, he’d be a superstar in the ring for WWE just as easily. The same goes for Johnson once he finally hangs up his cleats in a few years, too.
How long before we see those masks for sale at the pro shop at the Linc?
The 2024 offseason is now underway for the Philadelphia Eagles, with the bulk of free agents already gone. With the upcoming draft, they have some choices to make on how to fix their roster.
What are the Eagles’ current strengths? What are their weaknesses?
Strength: Offensive Line
Yes, even with Jason Kelce’s expected yet still gut-wrenching retirement, the Eagles are still strong at their offensive line. It shows how spoiled they’ve been for a long, long time.
Photo: Eagles Nation on X.
Sure, the Eagles’ interior offensive line took a big hit with the loss of Kelce, but it will serve as a chance for someone like former 2023 third-round pick Tyler Steen to emerge. He only played 71 snaps last season, so he’s due for an increase in that department. The Eagles have done a fantastic job acquiring and developing offensive linemen over the past couple of decades — the hope is that he can be the next.
The Eagles know what they have in Landon Dickerson, as he is a two-time Pro Bowler with just three seasons under his belt in the NFL. Getting him was a fantastic snag for the Eagles back in the 2021 NFL draft early in the second round. At 25 years of age, he should be the anchor of the interior offensive line for years to come — especially with his new four-year deal.
As for Cam Jurgens, he is the likely Kelce replacement at center after playing a lot of guard for the Birds last season (89%, to be exact). He’s still just 24 and played decent last season, so his progression will be something to monitor.
As for the rest of the offensive line, the Eagles know what they’re getting in tackles Jordan Mailata and Lane Johnson at this point. Arguably the best tackle duo in football, the offensive line will still be a strong point for Philadelphia, if not their strongest. If they can stay healthy, there shouldn’t be much to worry about with this unit.
Weakness: Defensive Backs
Looking at the Eagles’ first major weakness, the defensive backs took a significant step back from 2022 to 2023. They lost Avonte Maddox this offseason, who didn’t have the best 2023 campaign, but it’s still a loss nonetheless. James Bradberry’s regression has been apparent, and he still has two seasons left on his $38 million contract that he signed last offseason.
Before free agency, the only positives in the secondary were arguably only Darius Slay and Reed Blankenship. Even Slay took a small step back in 2023, so it was (and still is) a worrying aspect of the team.
But the Eagles went out and signed safety Chauncey Gardner-Johnson to a three-year deal, giving the Eagles their 2022 swagger back and some good coverage at that. The secondary still needs major work, but the importance of that addition cannot be understated.
Strength: Offensive Skill Positions
One thing that hasn’t always been great for the Eagles has been their skill positions. Now, however, it is one of the best features of their roster. The duo of A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith at wide receiver is can’t-miss good. Both of them will be eyeing Mike Quick’s record from 1983 to 1985 where he notched three straight 1,000-yard receiving seasons — they each have two in a row.
More recently, star running back Saquon Barkley agreed to terms with the Eagles. He is the only back in the NFL who recorded top-10 rushing yards over expected (RYOE) campaigns in both 2022 and 2023. He had dozens of big rushing plays (10 or more yards) for the New York Giants on a brutal offensive line, so he’ll help bring some explosiveness to Philadelphia. Even if he’s 27, he’s still one of the best at his position.
At this point, Jalen Hurts doesn’t need to be discussed. Even at his worst, which was arguably last season, he was still a phenomenal quarterback. He will only continue to get better.
Whether or not a tight end is considered to be a skill position or not, Dallas Goedert makes a good case for it. He’s not just a standard tight end — he can block, catch, and make plays. He is a vital player in the Eagles’ offense.
Weakness: Linebackers
It’s been the case for a while now, but the Eagles’ linebackers are not up to par. It’s been a while since that has been a strength, really. It’s both good and bad news that Nicholas Morrow, Zach Cunningham, and Shaquille Leonard are all likely on the way out. They had some good performances in there, but it was overall pretty disappointing.
The Eagles’ defense needs to improve next season, obviously. Things went smoothly early on, but some bad games against the Washington Commanders of all teams suggest they need more. By the end of the season, surrendering 30 or more points came with regularity. The linebackers definitely played into that, and there will be some big changes. If there was a position that the Eagles go heavy on in the draft and what’s left of free agency, that’ll be it.
In free agency, the Eagles added linebackers Oren Burks and Zack Baun to the room, but those are more or less depth adds. The addition of Devin White was a high-reward move, but it doesn’t take away from the Eagles’ issues. With the addition of Johnson to the secondary, the linebacker core is probably the Eagles’ biggest weakness as of now, even with White, especially now there.
Strength: Pass Rush
Much like the offensive line, the Eagles have had a fantastic defensive line for a while. They have great youth in Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis, while Josh Sweat and Milton Williams are both relatively young, too.
Photo: —
Carter, specifically, could take a massive jump for the Eagles. He was an elite player last season, so the hope is that his sophomore season can bring even more. With a duo of him and Davis out there, the Eagles should be dangerous for years to come. But 2024 could be a massive one for both of them.
Veterans like Brandon Graham and Reddick are still important to the Eagles. Reddick was the Eagles’ sack leader, while Graham has had his game age like a fine wine. He is still a great player at age 35. He is reportedly in the works for an extension to give it one more year. At this point, he’s one of the greatest Eagles of all time — the good news is that keeping him around will actually help the team rather than serve as a sentimental move.
However, considering the fact that the Eagles signed 25-year-old defensive end Bryce Huff to a contract worth $51.1 million, among their other huge splashes, chances are that someone like Reddick could go. There’s not enough money to keep everyone, and it would be a bit irresponsible for a young team to do that. With that out of the way, the Eagles pass rush should still be an area of strength without either of them. It might take a hit, but it is a young unit with a lot of talent.
In the draft, the Eagles will have three picks in the first two rounds. That’s plenty of ammo to make some big changes.
If the Eagles want to go back to the Super Bowl, addressing their needs will be a must. They have the assets to do so adequately.
In the past few weeks Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift‘s relationship has gotten so serious. More than once Jason Kelce has referred to Tay as one of “the family.”
So when Trav’s big bro announced his NFL retirement in Philadelphia on Monday it was great that she was there — at least in spirit. Obviously the Love Story singer couldn’t make it in person to sit with Trav, next to Kylie, Donna, and Ed Kelce. But thanks to her beau, she was part of the ceremony nonetheless.
See, Travis wore two friendship bracelets to the momentous event, both of which kept his gal close to his heart. One said “TT” — Travis loves Taylor — so cute! The other, well, that’s a little trickier…
The second one read “Travis Kelce is a…” But unfortunately the final word is always facing away from the camera in every hi res shot out there. What do YOU think it says, Swifties?? What would Taylor’s message about Trav say??
As far as we’re concerned, it might as well have read “Travis Kelce is a big softie” because he definitely was getting choked up during the big guy’s speech. And who could blame him with all that “brotherly love” talk. Not a dry eye in the house!
Tears are still streaming from Jason Kelce’s eyes as I write this. Hell, if not for the benefit of typing on a keyboard, half this paragraph would be smudged by my own self-made waterworks. On Monday afternoon, the Eagles’ captain announced his long-awaited retirement before a crowd of family, friends, and press.
If you haven’t watched it yet, take a look:
The announcement hardly comes as a surprise, as the center had been expected to retire for multiple years now. Jason Kelce leaves behind a Hall of Fame career as a 7-time Pro Bowler, a 6-time All-Pro, and most importantly, a Super Bowl Champion.
However, I don’t like to live in the past – that’s where all my exes are – and as such, I am here to talk about the future:
Cam Jurgens (left) and Jason Kelce (right)
Cam Jurgens
Jurgens IS the next Jason Kelce. He was drafted out of Nebraska in the 2nd round, 51st overall in the 2022 NFL Draft, joining Jordan Davis as the Eagles’ second selection. Much like Kelce, Jurgens stands just 6’3” – short for a center – but with over 20 pounds of mass on his predecessor. Not only that, Jurgens’ 40-yard dash time was just 0.03 seconds longer than the famously-quick Kelce.
Jurgens’ 2022 Draft profile hailed his speed, toughness, and durability, while critiques focused on his lack of size and mass – things Jurgens has made up for with core strength. In fact, he earned a score of 99 (1st overall in his draft class) for “athleticism,” according to NFL Next Gen Stats.
Sound familiar? That’s because he IS Jason Kelce 2.0
Don’t believe me? Take it up with Kelce. The now-retired Eagles legend hand-picked Jurgens, telling Philadelphia scouts and media alike that “of all the centers that have been compared to me… this is the guy. It’s him.”
There is a chance the team finds a center in the draft as well, and Jurgens has plenty of time to continue developing at just 24-years-old. After all, Jason Kelce’s first Pro Bowl season didn’t come until he was 30 years old! But if Howie Roseman is looking for the next great anchor of the offensive line, Jurgens is primed for the job.
With the Eagles eliminated from the postseason, future Hall of Famer Jason Kelce has diverted his attention to his brother Travis’ path to another championship. Ahead of the younger Kelce and the Chiefs taking on the 49ers in Super Bowl LVIII, Jason showed up to the Big Game in style, rocking a pair of Kansas City overalls.
Outside of Taylor Swift and Usher, Kelce’s ‘fit was the most anticipated of any celebrity out in Las Vegas. He went full Midwest. Respect for owning his Ohio roots and for rooting on his brother’s squad.
*Watch the above video to see NFL star and NE Ohio native Jason Kelce give Cleveland Heights some love*
LAS VEGAS (WJW) — Nevada is nearly 2,000 miles from Cleveland but NFL star Jason Kelce, who is in Las Vegas for Super Bowl week, has his hometown on his mind.
Jason is in Vegas today to root for his brother Travis who is playing in the big game with the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs play the San Francisco 49ers at 6:20 p.m.
The Kelce brothers are graduates of Cleveland Heights High School.
A NE Ohio native, Kate Stromberg, who is in Las Vegas just happened to cross paths with Jason and asked him to give a shout out to her dad Gary Stromberg who is a Cleveland Heights High School graduate from the class of 1968, and spent 31 years as FOX 8 News reporter.
Courtesy: Kate Stromberg
Jason not only agreed, as you’ll see in the video player at the top of this story, but he was rather enthusiastic about it!
*Gary Stromberg wrote a book about prominent graduates from Cleveland Heights High School and other inspiring grads. The book is titled ‘Every Tiger has a Tale’.
Bring on the defense! Jason Kelce’s response to Taylor Swift’s NFL coverage has been nothing but supportive. The Philadelphia Eagles player shared his positive thoughts about the singer amid recent criticism surrounding the NFL’s live TV coverage of her appearances at recent Kansas City Chiefs games in support of her boyfriend and his brother, Travis Kelce.
In a recent interview with ABC affiliate WCPO 9, Jason didn’t hold back in supporting Taylor’s appearances during the NFL broadcasts. “The attention’s there because the audience wants to see it,” he shared. “I mean, if people didn’t want to see it, they wouldn’t be showing it. I know that. She’s a world star, she’s the quintessential artist right now in the world, singer-songwriter, immensely talented, unbelievable role model for young women across the globe.”
Dispensing some valuable advice to the NFL, Jason shared, “I think that the NFL would probably be foolish not to show her,” noting that the Midnights singer is “a role model for all the young girls out there.”
The Kelce family’s connection with Taylor reached new heights on January 21, 2024, when Jason and his wife Kylie met the singer in person at the Chiefs’ playoffs game against the Buffalo Bills. Jason went viral during the game himself, as he was caught live on TV and social media celebrating shirtless following one of his brother’s touchdowns outside their stadium suite with fans.
Taylor, Jason, and Kylie went on to reunite at the Chiefs’ AFC Championship game against the Baltimore Ravens the following week, where Travis’ team secured their spot in the 2024 Super Bowl. The Kelce brothers’ parents, Donna Kelce and Ed Kelce, joined the festivities on the field, where Taylor and star tight end Travis also sealed the celebration with a kiss.
This isn’t the first time Jason has gushed over Taylor. On his “New Heights” podcast, the supportive older sibling frequently compliments his brother’s significant other and even humorously welcomed her as a new member of “Chiefs Kingdom.” “Shout out to the newest members of the Chiefs Kingdom. Taylor Swift, who has officially reached the Super Bowl in her rookie year,” he said during a recent episode, to which Travis responded, “Shout out to Tay! Thanks for joining the team!”
Taylor and Travis started dating over the summer of 2023, and their relationship has been flourishing ever since. The couple first met when Travis attempted to give Taylor his phone number during her Kansas City Eras Tour show stop. Since then, Taylor has been a fixture at many Chiefs games, seamlessly blending in with the rest of the Kelce brood.
Now, as the excitement builds for the upcoming Super Bowl — where Travis and the Chiefs will face off against the San Francisco 49ers — fans are already looking forward to Taylor’s expected appearance. And from the sounds of it, Jason Kelce will be happy to see her there, too!
Omnipresent brothers, Travis and Jason Kelce (who are NFL players, commercial stars, SNL hosts, podcasters, and members of Taylor Swift’s inner circle) are looking to add a game development feather to their caps—specifically, they want to reboot ‘90s classics Backyard Football and Backyard Baseball. Whether or not you’re a member of the Kansas City Chiefs Kingdom, a birds (Philadelphia Eagles) loyalist, or a Swiftie, you can’t deny that this is a great idea.
The Open World Racing Game That’s Been Gone For A Decade Is Coming Back
On the January 31 episode of their New Heights podcast, Travis asked his brother Jason if he remembered Backyard Football, which debuted two years after the first game in the Humongous Entertainment-developed (and Atari published) franchise, Backyard Baseball. The premise is simple: neighborhood kids get together and create teams to play pick-up versions of baseball, football, and soccer. Players take on the role of manager, selecting the teams and making in-game decisions in either quick play matches or an entire season’s worth of games. For many of us, it was a seminal part of our childhood gaming experiences—for me specifically, I still spout off some of the sayings squawked by the in-game baseball announcer, Vinnie the Gooch.
Jason Kelce also fondly remembers Backyard Football—so much so he wants to reboot the damn thing. “I don’t even know if I want to mention this, I’ve secretly been looking into seeing if anybody holds the rights to Backyard Football and Backyard Baseball, ‘cause I want to buy it and get this going again—that was the best game ever.” Kelce then suggests that the game would be perfect on mobile, and he’s not wrong—it certainly didn’t require all that much processing power.
The Kelce brothers are certified geniuses if they reboot the Backyard franchise—and it’s not just because those games are awesome and tons of people would be on-board for the nostalgia alone. Specifically, the genius behind rebooting the franchise lies in later versions of the games: both Backyard Baseball 2011 and Backyard Football2002 (and Backyard Soccer: MLS Edition, which I loved), added professional athletes to the neighborhood kid mix, animated to fit the art style of the games. That meant you got to play alongside a big-headed Derek Jeter or Brett Favre, who rubbed elbows with schoolyard icons like Pablo Sanchez and the Weber twins.
Imagine a modern version of that, with a little cartoon Travis Kelce doing the swag surf? I’m so down. As spotted by IGN and corroborated by Kotaku, American legal information site Justia states that the Backyard Sports trademark is owned by Day 6 Sports Group, who developed the last games in the franchise back in 2015. The Day 6 Sports Group website link is a dead-end, and its Twitter account hasn’t been active since May 4, 2015.
Everyone is talking about the intimate moments between Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift after the AFC Championship game on Sunday. And rightfully so, of course. It’s so cute!
But an older and deeper relationship was on full display, too. In a heartwarming moment, Travis’ big brother Jason Kelce, who plays center for the Philadelphia Eagles, got to greet his brother after his big win. And the moment turned so emotional!
These two boys grew up just two years apart, with Travis always in the shadow of the more successful Jason. Then they both got into the NFL and found their own wins — eventually starting a podcast together in which fans got to join in as they teased and supported one another. And then they faced off in the Super Bowl, the first brothers ever to do so! So the history between these two as both brothers and ballers is so rich.
In the video of their meetup on the field, Travis is obviously still pumped from the win. But just a couple key words from big bro nearly DESTROY the Big Yeti. Jason, his voice on the edge of cracking, says in his ear:
“You’re the best in the world. I know it wasn’t easy. I know it was a hard year.”
At that, Travis was visibly shaking to keep from crying. But the big guys patted each other with blows that would have snapped normal-sized men in half and somehow kept from breaking down ugly-crying right there on the field of victory. Jason continues:
“And you guys f**king played through. Finish it for me. Finish this motherf**ker.”
Travis responds, voice overpowering the tears:
“Takin’ it to the mountain. One more f**king game. How about it?”
To understand how much that means, that “finish it for me,” you have to understand this was probably Jason’s final year in the NFL (for more on that, see the fantastic documentary Kelce). He didn’t get to go out on a Super Bowl win, but cheering on his brother’s journey may be the next best thing. No wonder he went so wild the previous week! See the powerful moment from a couple different angles (below):
Swifties can celebrate “love story” season by enjoying a Taylor Swift-themed Valentine’s Day pop-up at Taqueria Amor in Manayunk.
The eatery, located at 4410 Main Street, is hosting “Amor Story” now through Sunday, Feb. 25. The festivities include special food, drinks and decor inspired by the pop star.
Taqueria Amor’s menu during the pop-up will include cocktails with punny names inspired by Swift songs and Swiftie lore, such as the “Miss Americana,” “Cruel Summer,” “Champagne Problems” and “Cardigan.” Special food items will include the “Taylor’s Tacos” and “The Way I Love Guacamole.”
The restaurant also alludes to Swift’s own “lover,” Chiefs’ tight end Travis Kelce with drinks like “The Guy on the Chiefs” and a section decorated in honor of Travis’ big bro, Eagles center Jason Kelce.
“Amor Story” is the latest pop-up for Taqueria Amor, which has previously hosted festivities inspired by Christmas and tropical vibes.
“Join us for a New Era this Valentine’s Day,” the eatery said in a release. “Our Reputation for a fun Pop-up is back with cocktails from your Wildest Dreams, decor, a projector show and food too Lover! Now get in your Getaway Car and make your way to Taqueria’s Amor Story.”
Along with the pop-up, Taqueria Amor is also collaborating with Manayunk businesses Minor Details Philly and Sweet Nostalgia Scents on Swift-themed candle-making classes on Fridays, Feb. 9 and Feb. 16.
Taqueria Amor is open Monday through Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday through Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday from 12-8 p.m.
Travis Kelce, a tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs, and Jason Kelce, a center for the Philadelphia Eagles, have both sparked headlines in recent weeks regarding their futures in the NFL. Their mom, Donna, seemingly addressed the reports in a new interview with People, telling the outlet that she’s confident her sons will continue to be involved with the NFL in some capacity even if they do choose to retire in the near future.
The mother of two explained that she “can’t believe that they wouldn’t be in the future involved with football in some capacity because they love it so much.” She continued, “They love the people and they love the coaches. They just love the whole aspect about it,” highlighting the “very small community” they share in football.
Mama Kelce went on to emphasize her confidence in her sons, noting that they can do anything they set their minds to. “Anything they want to do, I truly believe they could do. I’ve seen it over and over again,” she shared. “They are just very tenacious, very much, ‘I’m going to see this through.’ They just never give up. They just keep moving on.”
Donna’s thoughts come just weeks after her son Jason Kelce’s loss with the Eagles against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the NFL’s Wild Card weekend. The loss marked the end of the Eagles postseason journey, knocking the Philadelphia team out of the playoffs. Following the loss, many began to wonder if it was the last time they would be seeing Jason Kelce wearing the number 62. But according to the 36-year-old, the decision to retire hasn’t been made just yet.
“I just don’t think you’re in a position after a game like that to really, you know, make that decision. I just don’t,” Jason said during an episode of his “New Heights” podcast on January 17, 2024. “There’s too much emotion in the moment. There’s too much going down in the moment to really fully grasp that decision.” He went on to add, “I’m not trying to be dramatic to continue to draw this thing out. I’m really not.”
His younger brother Travis also responded to the rumors that Jason might retire, noting during a press conference on January 19, 2024, “It came out that he retired, and he really didn’t say any of that.”
“The end of that game, I think everybody kind of felt for him, knowing that he has been thinking about it a lot over the past couple of years. The documentary shows that. You don’t need to go around and ask anybody,” Travis told reporters, adding, “It’s been cool to see everybody appreciate who he’s been over the years this past week, but I think the big guy still got some football left if he wants it.
Meanwhile, Travis appeared to shut down his own retirement rumors during a recent bonus video for his “New Heights” podcast. “I haven’t found something outside of football that’s going to challenge me like playoff football,” he said. “And I don’t know if I’ll ever find that. And that’s one of the things that’ll make me play this game until the wheels fall off.”
He continued, “I know that I get to accept these challenges and these difficult games, these difficult matchups, the question of whether or not we’ll prevail — and coming up big for the guys next to me. It’s an energy and an excitement that I haven’t found anywhere else in the world, and it’s something that I definitely cherish.”
As the Kelce brothers navigate their potential post-NFL paths, one thing is clear—their love for football is likely to endure, regardless of whether they’re playing in the league or participating in it from the sidelines.
If any team knows the importance of depth at the running back position, the Philadelphia Eagles might be first on that list.
Their 7,414 regular season rushing yards in the three-season Nick Sirianni era rank third to only the Baltimore Ravens and Chicago Bears, while the Birds rode that wave into Super Bowl LVII with a league-leading 531 rushing yards that playoff.
With that being said, the Eagles are now in a predicament that could leave them without their lead back in D’Andre Swift and third- and fourth-stringers Boston Scott and Rashaad Penny — all three of them being unrestricted free agents.
The Eagles’ bread-and-butter rushing offense could take a massive hit in the 2024 season if they aren’t careful.
With some good money to spare and high-end draft picks at their disposal, there should be no reason why they avoid the running back market; this time, it’s a necessity.
A Somewhat Regressing Rushing Attack
In 2023, the Eagles’ rushing attack ranked eighth with 2,190 overall yards and tied for eighth at 4.3 yards per attempt. Those are still solid numbers, but for how fantastic their offensive line is, it’s not good enough. While Swift became just the tenth back in team history to reach the illustrious 1,000-yard total in his first season with the Birds, he did so with -65 rushing yards above expected (RYOE), suggesting he was one of the less effective high-end rushers in the NFL.
Among backs with 100 or more carries, he ranked 40th of 49 in the category — just the 18th percentile. When adjusting for RYOE per attempt, he was not much better at the 24th percentile. This is not a point to rip on Swift but to highlight some of the inefficiencies in Philadelphia’s backfield as a whole. With how good their offensive line is, they could have been better.
Even Jalen Hurts saw his worst season as a rusher, with 3.9 yards per carry despite having a career average of 4.8. Hopefully, getting a new offensive mind will start to fix this, but whether Kliff Kingsbury, Kellen Moore, or anyone else gets the job, they will need some help.
The Eagles have issues all over the field that they will need to address, but an offense that scored just nine points in their early-playoff exit to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers has to become more explosive on the offensive side of the ball. If anything, it was their defense that kept them in that game, though the 32-9 final would suggest otherwise.
All season long, the Eagles have struggled to truly incorporate their rushing attack like they have in years past under Sirianni. The last time it truly felt as though they did this properly was in Week 2 against the Minnesota Vikings, way back on Sept. 14. In fact, that feeling is backed up by the stats. From Oct. 1 until the end of the season on Jan. 15 — a 15-game span — the Birds did not have a single player reach 100 rushing yards in a single game.
Having 100 rushing yards is no small feat, as the Eagles only had a player reach this total four times in 2022, but their passing attack was also one of the best in the league. They didn’t have the duel threat in 2023, with Hurts regressing a bit stats-wise from his 2022 campaign, making it something they arguably should have leaned on more. At times, it felt as though they were not a threat at all on offense despite their elite talent on that front.
What a Move Could Entail
Whether or not General Manager (GM) Howie Roseman can land — or even afford — a game-altering back this offseason, it should be something he pushes for. It’s not always the best use of assets, but he and the Eagles know all too well what Christian McCaffrey has done for the San Francisco 49ers. Leading the NFL with 349 RYOE, it’s no surprise that he has made the NFC Championship with his new squad in each of his first two campaigns.
Photo: Mitchell Leff/Getty Images
It’s very rare for a younger, talented back like McCaffrey to be on the market, but it’s not like the Eagles won’t have options. The Pittsburgh Steelers had two positive RYOE, 100-attempt backs in Jaylen Warren and Najee Harris. Meanwhile, the lowly 6-11 Tennessee Titans could be shopping Derrick Henry, who finished with 84 RYOE and 0.31 RYOE per attempt. There are options that should be available, but sacrifices will have to be made.
If Swift doesn’t re-sign to become the lead back and the Eagles can’t land one of the top available players, they might be in some trouble. While Kenny Gainwell is still under contract and got a decent workload with 84 carries in the regular season and 4.3 yards per attempt, he really isn’t in a place to see a massive uptick in his involvement in the offense. Between Hurts and him, there will need to be another body mixed in there, if not multiple, that can be heavily involved in the rushing attack.
In his Jan. 24 end-of-season press conference, Sirianni preached “fresh ideas.” While this might not have been referring to his back, it’s very clear that a shakeup is necessary.
If the Birds can put more faith in them and have it be a staple of their offense, it might be the first step in returning to the Super Bowl. They have a few months to figure out how they want to attack this dilemma.
Cam Jurgens (left) and Jason Kelce (right)
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