After days of criticism over his split loyalties heading into Super Bowl LIX, Jason Kelce finally broke down on this week’s episode of New Heights.
Initially, Jason comforted his brother Travis, whose Kansas City Chiefs suffered a 40-22 defeat at the New Orleans Superdome on Sunday night. However, as he expressed his unease at the Eagles’ victory, the retired Philadelphia center became overwhelmed with emotion.
‘Part of me is very happy and proud they won this game,’ Jason told Travis.
‘But that doesn’t make you less of a brother,’ Travis interrupted. ‘That doesn’t make you less of a brother.’
Jason then raised his quivering voice above his brother’s.
‘Supporting you takes precedence,’ Jason told Travis, clarifying his desire for Travis to emerge victorious in Sunday’s game. ‘That’s why this game was difficult to watch. It was incredibly challenging.’
Jason Kelce finally broke down on this week’s episode of New Heights after days of criticism
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) walks off the field at the halftime break
‘Despite my deep affection for the Eagles and the city of Philadelphia, there is no part of me that…’ Jason’s voice cracked as tears welled up, causing him to pause and change his direction. ‘I attempted to convince myself that I was cheering for both teams throughout and that I would experience mixed emotions, regardless of the outcome. Whether it was the Eagles who won…’
The frustrated Jason stopped himself again, admitting: ‘I don’t even want to do this.’
Neither Jason nor Travis revealed any of the elder brother’s antagonists by name. However, Jason was the target of significant online criticism from both Eagles and Chiefs fans who alternately questioned his loyalty to Philadelphia and Travis, respectively.
Ultimately Travis refused to let his brother beat himself up.
‘F***’em,’ Travis said of Jason’s critics. ‘You don’t owe any of these d***heads the acknowledgement. You don’t, Jason. Everyone that knows you knows your intentions.’
Travis continued, saying the critics were ‘just trying to get a rise out of somebody else.’
Jason wasn’t the only one crying on this week’s episode of New Heights.
The Chiefs star’s voice began to wobble as he told his older sibling about his regrets from the 40-22 loss on Sunday.
Kelce’s older brother Jason told him he is one of the best players in the history of the NFL
An emotional Travis Kelce has broken his silence on his Super Bowl disaster on Sunday
Travis did not directly address retirement rumors in the short clip that was shared in the early hours of Wednesday morning. He did, however, tell Chiefs fans that he is ‘sorry for how it ended’ as he reflected on the chances of a Super Bowl three-peat turning to dust.
‘Just wasn’t our day,’ Kelce said. ‘Couldn’t find a lick of momentum. I’m kicking myself for some of the tiny, tiny decisions I made on the field.
‘I wasn’t the best that I could be in motivating my guys and keeping my guys calm, cool and collected and I put a lot of that on myself, you know, as the guy that’s been in the building for 12 years and seen a lot of football and seen a situation just like this, in the Super Bowl.
‘It’s a tough pill to swallow. It’s a hard reality, man,’ Kelce added. His voice then began shake as he spoke of the family and friends he had in the stadium watching his big night become a nightmare, including girlfriend Taylor Swift.
The Chiefs star replied: ‘That’s the last thing that I care about right now.’
Indeed, the question now is whether Kelce will take another catch in the NFL again.
Ashley Avignone, Taylor Swift, Alana Haim and Este Haim attend Super Bowl LIX
It remains to be seen how much he addresses his future when the full show drops but whatever he decides, he will almost certainly let the Chiefs know by March 12 – the beginning of NFL free agency.
Kelce spoke briefly with reporters in the locker room in New Orleans but cut questions off before he was asked about a potential retirement.
‘We haven’t played that bad all year,’ he said about the game. ‘You don’t lose like that without everything going bad.’
Even at 35, Travis remained productive, recording 97 receptions and 823 yards on 133 targets during the regular season. However, he had only three touchdowns over 16 games and just one in the postseason.
The likely Hall of Famer is under contract through next season, but Travis has a number of off-the-field projects, including a cameo in the upcoming Happy Gilmore sequel.
Such endeavors have naturally led to fears among Chiefs fans that Kelce could bolt Kansas City for a Hollywood lifestyle.
