Not so long ago, the name Jason Kelce was not one that many people were familiar with, even within the Philadelphia Eagles organization. He was not considered an elite talent and it took almost six rounds and 190 picks before he finally made it to the NFL. But despite the odds stacked against him, Kelce has proven himself to be a force to be reckoned with on the field, and his journey to success is one that is truly inspiring.
Kelce’s story begins in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, where he grew up with his older brother Travis, who is also a successful NFL player. From a young age, Kelce showed a natural talent for football and he quickly became a star player at Cleveland Heights High School. However, despite his impressive skills, he was not heavily recruited by colleges and ended up playing for the University of Cincinnati.
Even at the college level, Kelce faced challenges and setbacks. He was redshirted his freshman year due to a knee injury and had to work hard to earn a starting position on the team. But he never gave up and eventually became one of the top tight ends in the country, earning All-Big East honors in his senior year.
Despite his success in college, Kelce was not highly regarded by NFL scouts and was not expected to be drafted until the later rounds, if at all. But that didn’t stop him from giving his all at the NFL Combine, where he impressed teams with his speed and agility. And on the third day of the draft, the Philadelphia Eagles took a chance on him in the sixth round, making him the 191st overall pick.
It was a dream come true for Kelce, who had always dreamed of playing in the NFL. But little did he know, there was a funny twist to his draft story that would make it even more memorable. In an interview with his brother Travis, Kelce revealed that the Eagles had actually misspelled his name on his draft card.
“They spelled my name wrong on the draft card,” Kelce said with a laugh. “They spelled it ‘Kelsey’ instead of ‘Kelce’.”
But this mistake did not deter Kelce, who was determined to prove himself and make a name for himself in the NFL. And that’s exactly what he did. In his rookie year, he played in all 16 games and quickly became a key player on the Eagles’ offense. He was known for his versatility, playing both as a tight end and a fullback, and his impressive blocking skills.
But it wasn’t until the 2017 season that Kelce truly made a name for himself. He helped lead the Eagles to their first Super Bowl victory, and his passionate and emotional speech at the team’s victory parade became an iconic moment in Philadelphia sports history. Kelce’s hard work, determination, and never-give-up attitude had paid off, and he was finally recognized as one of the top players in the league.
Since then, Kelce has continued to be a dominant force on the field, earning three Pro Bowl selections and two First-Team All-Pro honors. He has also become a fan favorite, known for his colorful personality and his iconic “Mummer’s Parade” outfit at the Eagles’ Super Bowl victory parade.
Kelce’s journey to success is a reminder that hard work, determination, and perseverance can overcome any obstacle. Despite being overlooked and underestimated, he never gave up on his dream and proved all the doubters wrong. And now, he is not only a star player in the NFL, but also a source of inspiration for anyone who has faced challenges and setbacks in their own lives.
So the next time you watch Jason Kelce on the field, remember his incredible journey and let it motivate you to never give up on your own dreams, no matter how big or small they may seem. Because as Kelce has shown, anything is possible with hard work, determination, and a little bit of luck – even if your name is misspelled on your draft card.
