Swifties are devastated to learn of Jason Kelce’s imminent retirement from the NFL, to say the least, after Philadelphia’s playoff run ended earlier this week, as they flood social media with fan edits in tribute to the Eagles center.
On Monday, Kelce stood on the sideline in tears as the final seconds ticked off in his likely final NFL game. The 36-year-old, one-time Super Bowl champion (2018) gave a hug to his long-time offensive coach, Jeff Stoutland, before removing his helmet once the game ended – a Eagles loss that completed a harrowing season-ending collapse – and extended his hand to his wife and his father in the stands.
What Kelce knew then – what the gregarious center couldn’t bring himself to say when he declined to speak to reporters in the aftermath of the defeat – was that his football career was over.
The brother of Taylor Swift’s boyfriend, Travis Kelce, has yet to offer clarification on his future but the New Heights podcast co-star – and default uncle to Swifties’ – will carry memories of 13 NFL seasons with him wherever he goes and whatever he does next, all thanks to fans of the songstress.
On X, formerly known as Twitter, Del – a Swift fan account – posted a dramatic fan-edited montage that combines voiceovers from Jason throughout his career with photos of him integrated with lyrics from Swift’s ‘Long Live’. The video has been viewed more than 300,000 times over the last 24 hours.
Eagles center Jason Kelce’s retirement is imminent after Philly’s wild card-round playoff exit
Fans of Taylor Swift have shown support to the songstress’ future brother-in-law since Monday
‘why just why,’ another Swift fan responded to the clip with a tearful emoji. ‘OH MY GOD IM SOBBING HYSTERICALLY,’ claimed an additional Swiftie, adding: ‘I’m gonna become a whole different person tomorrow when I see Jason talking about last night and his retirement and him and Travis both emotional over it.’
Another fan shared a compilation with a video of Kelce playing with his daughters and photos of him throughout his time with the Eagles – since 2011 – as visuals were accompanied by Swift’s ‘Long Live’ lyrics: ‘Tell ’em how the crowds went wild … I had the time of my life, with you.’
Separately, other fans created threads containing some of Kelce’s most wholesome moments, both on and off the field.
One fan admitted to going from being uninterested by football, four months ago when Swift and Travis started dating, to ‘crying over a retirement announcement.’
The phenomenon is the latest example of Swifties’ influence on American culture over the last year or so, ever since she went public with Travis and started going to his games. Some NFL fans have been delighted by it while others are not fond of sports channels repeatedly showing the songstress on live TV during games.
The NFL, however, loves Swift’s habit of going to stadiums to watch on her beau, as it has increased female viewership, attendance and marketing due to the popstar’s game-day attires.
Kelce was part of Philadelphia’s core four of stars that have experienced droughts and championship runs, multiple coaches and one of the worst collapses in the city’s sports history. Fletcher Cox and Brandon Graham are the lone holdovers from former coach Andy Reid’s last season with the Eagles in 2012. Lane Johnson completes the four veteran anchors and was a rookie in former coach Chip Kelly’s first season in 2013.
They won a Super Bowl under former coach Doug Pederson and won just four games in 2020. They’ve played hurt and set records. They’ve also raised the standard on what it means to be an Eagles player. The Core Four is no more. Kelce is the first to call it quits.
‘The fact that he’s done it for so long so consistently at a very high level, man, it’s a special thing,’ Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni said.