Georgia defensive back Kelee Ringo (DB27) Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Eagles rookie has odd dietary habit

By Bruce Ewing | Last updated 8/31/23

Titans rookie quarterback Will Levis just received a lifetime endorsement deal with Hellmann's for putting mayonnaise in his coffee. Philadelphia’s Kelee Ringo needs to get Sara Lee on the phone.

The Philadelphia Eagles recently posted a video of some of their young Georgia players having dinner. Defensive tackle Jordan Davis, linebackers Nakobe Dean and Nolan Smith and Ringo all sat down to break bread, but the Eagles’ rookie cornerback revealed a unique approach.

Ringo eats his bread with a knife and fork. Smith is first to point out his teammate’s strange custom while Davis accuses him of “putting on for the camera.” But Ringo protests. “Nah, bro,” he says, “I just don’t wanna get garlic all over my hands and stuff.”

.@KeleeRingo, you showing off for the camera? @lincolnfingroup | #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/uJsmiS88Lb
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) August 30, 2023

That’s interesting. What does Ringo have against garlic? According to realsimple.com, dried garlic is the second-most popular spice in the United States (cilantro is first.) Sure, “garlic breath” can be a problem, but fearing “garlic fingers” is something else entirely.

Then again, Ringo's hands have served him well. He earned second-team All-SEC honors after leading Georgia with seven pass breakups in 2022 and had four interceptions in two years with the school.

Prior to the 2023 NFL Draft, Bleacher Report noted Ringo does a good job of using his hands when taking on blocks and praised his ability to use his hands to disrupt routes, control receivers and set the edge in the run game.

So maybe Ringo isn’t so weird. Philadelphia has embraced stranger dietary customs. Ever tried scrapple? Besides, George Costanza used a fork and knife to eat his Snickers bars in 1994, and he was the assistant to the traveling secretary for the New York Yankees.

More must-reads: