CELEBRITY
Travis and Jason Kelce share emotional handshake during Chiefs’ star’s retirement speech
Jason and Travis Kelce were seen sharing an emotional embrace after the Eagles star paid a heartbreaking tribute to his younger brother in his retirement speech.
Following 13 seasons in the NFL, during which he won a Super Bowl in Philadelphia and earned six first-team All-Pro nominations, the 36-year-old Eagles center called time on his career on Monday.
As emotional and tearful as he was in front of reporters during a press conference held by the Eagles, Jason said of the Chiefs tight end, who he lost to in Super Bowl LVII last year: ‘This is where its gonna go off the rails. I won’t forget falling short to the Chiefs and the conflicting feeling of the men’s heartbreak I had selfishly for myself and my teammates.
‘And at the same time, the amount of pride I had in my brother,’ he further pointed out, adding: ‘We have a small family. No cousins. One aunt and one uncle. It was really my brother and I our whole lives.
‘We did almost everything together. Competing, fought, laughed, cried and learned from each other. We invented games, imagined ourselves as the star players of that time. We envisioned making the game winning plays, day after day, on Coolridge Road. We won countless Super Bowls in our minds before ever leaving the house.’
Having been raised in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, Jason recalled his kid brother’s impact early-on on his career, noting that without his support, he wouldn’t be often regarded as one of the greatest centers in NFL history. Travis shed a tear while his older brother announced his retirement.
Jason further said of his bond with his ‘lil’ bro”: ‘And when we weren’t playing, we were at the other’s one’ games. Butt seated in a long chair or bench, a Capri Sun in our hands that mom had packed, cheering during the game and waiting outside and afterward to celebrate a victory together. Or offer encouragement after a defeat.
‘There is no chance I’d be here without the bond that Travis and I share. It made me stronger, tougher, smarter and taught me the values of cooperation, loyalty, and understanding.’