Jason Kelce Rises
It's no news by now that the Philadelphia Eagles are World Champions. On the surface, the man of the year in Philly is the backup QB who stepped in to lead the troops to victory, Nick Foles. That hype was fun while it lasted, but Cleveland Heights native and Eagles' starting Center, Jason Kelce, has stole the show.
Kelce, who is widely respected around the league as a great player, has been a viral sensation from the first moment a camera got in his face following the Super Bowl victory.
Where in most cases, expletives are frowned upon on television, there's not a soul (that I know of) not letting this slide. The passion, the moment - we feel. Linemen don't usually get a lot of pub, but when you're in big situations, not mentally prepared to describe in words the feeling of winning the FIRST SUPER BOWL IN FRANCHISE HISTORY, you show out...just like Jason.
The next time a camera got in Kelce's face that night, we got another inspirational message. This one, the more humble side of Kelce, expressing gratitude to his parents and shedding light on his path to football immortality.
After Super Bowl Sunday, thanks to the internet, the world heard Jason's voice. The world became familiar with him, felt his story and became fans. Jason's words touched many people and what better time to do it when all the spotlight is on you and your team.
But that's not where it ends. In fact, that was just a warm-up. Jason was just getting started. The first two speeches were just intros to what Kelce had up his sleeve for the Eagles parade:
Kelce went full WWE on the WORLD! Delivering this inspiring, passionate, mildly aggressive, Stone Cold-like speech, in front of probably MILLIONS of fans on top of the millions watching.
*Insert, Jason Kelce - LEGEND!*
As someone who has known Jason for about 20 years now, this is one of the greatest series of events I've witnessed in sports and I couldn't be more proud or think of anyone more deserving than 'the bearded one.' The kid with the odds stacked against him, as most of us from Cleveland Heights are, standing on the highest level in his sport and rising to the occasion. That's legendary.
What even makes it better is it's all true. It's all real. Jason's story, Jason's passion, Jason's underdog status and his fight - now put out in front of the world; creating opportunities for the next Jason Kelce's in history, influencing underdogs everywhere and unifying people across the world with his words to keep pushing.
"The underdog is the hungry dog and the hungry dog runs faster!"
Stay hungry, remain focused, become LEGENDARY! Congratulations Jason, World Champion!