ORLANDO - "Kelce, Kelce, Kelce..."
As the NFC Team took the field in Orlando for the 2024 Pro Bowl, all that could be heard are chants for Kelce, but it's not the flashy Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis, instead his big brother Jason of the Philadelphia Eagles.
Jason, despite being a future Hall of Fame offensive lineman, has somehow become the biggest star of the Pro Bowl, a Grizzly Bear on the field that's had to embrace being the NFL's Teddy Bear as a result.
Before being subjected to the poking and prodding of the media questioning him about his brother's love life with Taylor Swift or turning into America's Sweetheart, he was simply an offensive lineman. At his roots, that's what he still is despite retirement rumors swirling, which he hasn't confirmed. To help get to know the real Kelce, fellow Pro Bowl lineman and Eagles veteran Lane Johnson gave an exclusive interview with us here at Eagles Today at SI.com.
Johnson has spent more than a decade playing alongside Kelce, and despite all of Kelce's celebrity-like attention in recent years, Johnson keeps it simple when describing the dynamic of the two: they're a duo straight out of the film Dumb and Dumber.
"It’s like he’s Jim Carrey, and I’m Jeff Daniels," Johnson said. "I just keep him in line. If he gets too hot, I cool him down, and then sometimes, when he’s hot, I’ll add to the fire. He’s been a tremendous friend."
Despite Johnson's Dumb and Dumber reference, which jokingly undersells their dynamic, make no mistake: the Eagles duo has been brilliant on the gridiron. Together, the two have been on fire for the majority of their careers, making a combined 11 Pro Bowls and 10 All-Pro teams while also helping lead the team to multiple Super Bowl appearances and victory in Super Bowl LII.
On a more serious note, Johnson praised Kelce's career while acknowledging the persisting retirement rumors he's dealt with since Philadelphia's season ended earlier this postseason.
"There are few guys you see that have the passion he has for the game with how he plays," Johnson said. "Just a tremendous player, definitely a Hall of Famer. When you look at his skill set and what he’s able to do out in space, I don’t think you can really compare anybody to him with what he does, so a tremendous career."
For now, it seems Johnson will enjoy another Pro Bowl with his longtime friend and teammate, treating every moment like it could be their last game suiting up together.
"Obviously, he's a great player, I’m not sure if he’s retiring yet," Johnson said. "I would love to have him back, but obviously, he started some things off the field, which I know he’s excited about."
Eagles fans will have one last guaranteed game where they can watch the 36-year-old legendary center play alongside fellow teammates such as Jalen Hurts, D'Andre Swift, Landon Dickerson, and Johnson today at 3 p.m. ET when they all suit up to play in the Pro Bowl's flag football game in Orlando, Florida.
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