Jason Kelce announces retirement after 13 seasons with Eagles

FOX 29 Philadelphia
4 Mar 202463:35

Summary

TLDRJason Kelce, a beloved center for the Philadelphia Eagles, gave an emotional retirement speech after 13 seasons with the team. He recounted his journey from a walk-on at the University of Cincinnati to becoming one of the best centers in the league. Kelce shared heartfelt memories, thanked coaches, teammates, and the City of Philadelphia for their unwavering support. He emphasized the camaraderie, hard work, and underdog mentality that fueled his success. Kelce's speech was a genuine and raw expression of gratitude, reflecting on the highs and lows of his career, including the joy of winning the Super Bowl and the agony of defeat. His retirement marks the end of an era for the Eagles, and the city mourns the loss of a true Philadelphia icon.

Takeaways

  • ๐Ÿ˜Š The script is a retirement speech by Jason Kelce, an offensive lineman who played for the Philadelphia Eagles for 13 seasons.
  • ๐Ÿ† He fondly recalls his journey, from his childhood days playing football to winning the Super Bowl with the Eagles and becoming an All-Pro center.
  • ๐Ÿ‘ฅ He expresses gratitude to his family, coaches, teammates, and the organization for their support and belief in him throughout his career.
  • ๐ŸŸ๏ธ Kelce highlights the intense passion and expectations of Philadelphia's fans, and how embracing that fueled his success.
  • ๐Ÿ’ช He emphasizes the importance of hard work, determination, and an underdog mentality in overcoming doubts and achieving greatness.
  • ๐Ÿ™Œ Kelce acknowledges the camaraderie and diversity within the NFL locker room, and the unique bonds formed with teammates.
  • ๐Ÿ‘ธ He credits his wife, Kylie, for bringing out the best in him and providing unwavering support during his career.
  • ๐Ÿ‘จโ€๐Ÿ‘ฉโ€๐Ÿ‘งโ€๐Ÿ‘ฆ Kelce expresses his admiration for his parents, who instilled in him the values of hard work, belief, and never letting anyone dictate what he can achieve.
  • ๐Ÿฆ… He thanks the city of Philadelphia for allowing him to represent them and become a part of their homes every Sunday.
  • ๐ŸŒณ Kelce plans to continue his connection with Philadelphia, even after retirement, as he has put down roots in the city.

Q & A

  • What is the main event covered in this transcript?

    -The transcript covers Jason Kelce's retirement speech from the Philadelphia Eagles after 13 seasons with the team.

  • How did Jason Kelce describe his experience with football from a young age?

    -Jason described his first tackle at age 12 and how stepping onto the football field made him feel alive and free. He loved everything about football, whether playing in his backyard, at school, or on Friday nights.

  • What role did Jeff Stoutland play in Jason Kelce's career?

    -Jeff Stoutland, the Eagles' offensive line coach, believed in Kelce when he was struggling and helped him transform into an All-Pro center. Kelce credits Stoutland for his success and being a crucial influence.

  • How did Jason Kelce describe his journey from a walk-on at Cincinnati to being drafted by the Eagles?

    -Kelce was a walk-on at Cincinnati, where he had to fight harder for opportunities. He was drafted in the sixth round by the Eagles and credited Howard Mudd for valuing his athleticism over size.

  • What did Jason Kelce say about the city of Philadelphia and its fans?

    -Kelce praised Philadelphia as the most passionate sports town in America. He said the fans will love you if you show effort, aggression, and desire to fight, and they've been caring for generations about the team.

  • How did Jason Kelce describe his relationship with his teammates?

    -Kelce referred to his teammates as his "brothers" and cherished the camaraderie and relationships built off the field. He felt fortunate to play with great players and drew strength from them.

  • What did Jason Kelce say about his family's influence on his career?

    -Kelce credited his father for instilling an unwavering belief in him and his mother for teaching him never to let anyone tell him what he can't do. His brother, Travis, was also a significant influence and support system.

  • How did Jason Kelce describe the Eagles organization?

    -Kelce thanked Jeffrey Lurie for valuing employees and providing resources, Howie Roseman for drafting him, and Dom DiLorenzo as the "life force" of the organization. He praised the coaches, players, and support staff he worked with.

  • What did Jason Kelce say about the Super Bowl LII victory?

    -Kelce recounted the iconic "Philly Special" play, Nick Foles' performance, Brandon Graham's crucial stop, and the joy the Super Bowl brought to the city of Philadelphia.

  • How did Jason Kelce describe his retirement decision?

    -Kelce acknowledged that he is "officially overrated" but said it took a lot of hard work and determination to get to this point. He embraced being an underdog throughout his career and relished proving doubters wrong.

Outlines

00:00

๐Ÿ—ฃ๏ธ Unintelligible Audio Transcript

This paragraph appears to be a garbled and nonsensical transcript of audio or speech. The text contains random words and fragments that do not form any coherent sentences or meaning.

05:01

๐ŸŽถ Musical Interlude

This short paragraph consists of just a few words, seemingly indicating a musical interlude or segment within the larger context of the transcript or script.

10:11

โšฝ Reminiscing First Football Experience

This paragraph is a vivid recollection of the author's first experience playing football in pads at the age of 12. It describes the anticipation, the physical sensations, and the visceral feeling of the impending collision with a teammate during a practice session. The author reminisces about how the smell of freshly mowed grass triggers memories of this formative experience, highlighting the profound impact football had on him from a young age.

15:13

๐Ÿˆ Journey from Walk-On to NFL Draft

This lengthy paragraph chronicles the author's football journey, starting as a walk-on at the University of Cincinnati and the challenges he faced in earning respect and opportunities. It details his transition to the offensive line position, which proved to be a pivotal moment in his career. The paragraph also covers his senior year, the NFL draft process, and being selected by the Philadelphia Eagles, expressing gratitude to coaches, trainers, and support staff who contributed to his success along the way.

20:13

๐Ÿฆ… Early Years with the Philadelphia Eagles

This paragraph focuses on the author's initial years with the Philadelphia Eagles after being drafted. It recounts memorable moments, such as witnessing Jason Peters' impressive performances, the camaraderie with teammates, and the tragic passing of Garrett Reid, Andy Reid's son. The paragraph also touches on the unique coaching styles of Chip Kelly and the team's innovative offensive approach during that era.

25:27

๐Ÿ† Unforgettable Moments and the Super Bowl Victory

This paragraph highlights some of the most unforgettable moments in the author's career with the Philadelphia Eagles. It includes details about Carson Wentz's injury, the 'Philly Special' play call during the Super Bowl victory, and the emotional parade celebration with the city of Philadelphia. The paragraph also mentions the author's mother's newfound fame as the 'Mom of the NFL' and Coach Nick Sirianni's unique motivational tactics.

30:29

๐Ÿก Brotherly Love and Philadelphia's Passionate Fans

In this paragraph, the author reflects on the bond he shares with his brother, Travis, and how their relationship shaped his career. He expresses his gratitude for the opportunity to play in the 'City of Brotherly Love' and discusses the passionate nature of Philadelphia sports fans. The paragraph highlights the fans' unwavering support and high expectations, emphasizing the importance of giving one's all to earn their respect and love.

35:29

๐Ÿ™ Gratitude for Belief and Overcoming Doubters

This paragraph is a heartfelt expression of gratitude towards Jeff Stoutland, the offensive line coach who believed in the author during his darkest hour as a player. It recounts how Stoutland's belief and guidance helped the author overcome doubts, fix his problems, and eventually achieve success, earning multiple All-Pro and Pro Bowl selections. The paragraph also touches on the author's parents' unwavering support and the motivation he derived from proving doubters wrong throughout his career.

40:30

๐Ÿ‘ช Appreciating Family, Parenthood, and Role Models

In this emotional paragraph, the author expresses his appreciation for his family, particularly his father and mother, who served as role models and instilled values of hard work and perseverance. He reflects on his father's blue-collar background and his mother's trailblazing accomplishments as one of the first women in her family to attend college. The paragraph also highlights the author's gratitude for his wife, Kylie, and the fulfillment he finds in fatherhood.

45:33

๐Ÿ‘‹ Official Retirement Announcement and Gratitude

This paragraph marks the author's official announcement of his retirement from the NFL after 13 seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles. He expresses gratitude to the city, the organization, and the fans for allowing him to represent them and share a special bond. The author acknowledges the privilege of playing his entire career in one city and looks forward to new challenges and opportunities ahead, carrying the lessons learned from his time in Philadelphia.

50:43

๐Ÿ• Embracing the Underdog Mentality

In this powerful paragraph, the author delivers an impassioned speech celebrating the underdog mentality that defined the Philadelphia Eagles organization during their Super Bowl-winning season. He highlights how various players, coaches, and staff members were doubted and underestimated but used that as fuel to achieve greatness. The paragraph emphasizes the collective drive and determination that propelled the team to overcome adversity and defy expectations.

55:44

๐ŸŽถ Musical Interlude (Repeated)

This short paragraph consists of just a few words, seemingly indicating another musical interlude or segment within the larger context of the transcript or script.

Mindmap

Keywords

๐Ÿ’กUnderdog

The term 'underdog' refers to someone or something that is perceived as unlikely to succeed or overcome challenges due to being at a disadvantage or having fewer resources. In the video, the concept of an underdog is repeatedly highlighted, as Jason Kelce himself was an underdog, being a walk-on player at the University of Cincinnati and a sixth-round draft pick for the Philadelphia Eagles. He talks about how many doubted his abilities and that he relished proving those doubters wrong, fueling his determination to succeed. The entire Eagles team is portrayed as a group of underdogs who defied expectations to win the Super Bowl in 2017.

๐Ÿ’กCamaraderie

Camaraderie refers to the mutual trust, friendship, and sense of shared experience among members of a group. Kelce emphasizes the importance of camaraderie with his teammates, describing it as one of the aspects he cherished most during his time with the Eagles. He mentions how the bond and connection with his teammates, both on and off the field, was a significant part of his journey and something he will deeply miss after retiring.

๐Ÿ’กPerseverance

Perseverance is the ability to persist in the face of challenges, obstacles, and setbacks. Throughout the video, Kelce's perseverance is highlighted as a critical factor in his success. He talks about overcoming doubts, injuries, and adversities by working hard, learning from coaches, and never giving up. His perseverance is exemplified in his willingness to transition from a linebacker to an offensive lineman early in his career, leading to his eventual success and accolades.

๐Ÿ’กGratitude

Gratitude is the feeling of appreciation and thankfulness for people, experiences, or opportunities. Kelce expresses profound gratitude throughout his speech, thanking coaches, teammates, the organization, and the city of Philadelphia for their roles in his journey. He acknowledges the support and belief they had in him, even during challenging times, and expresses his appreciation for the opportunity to represent the city and the Eagles' organization.

๐Ÿ’กLegacy

Legacy refers to the lasting impact, reputation, or influence that someone leaves behind. Kelce reflects on the legacy he has built over his 13-year career with the Eagles, including his accomplishments, accolades, and the mark he has left on the team and the city. He expresses pride in the legacy he is leaving behind, one that will be remembered and celebrated by Eagles fans and the Philadelphia community.

๐Ÿ’กBrotherhood

Brotherhood is a term used to describe a close, loyal, and supportive bond between individuals, similar to the relationship between biological brothers. Kelce emphasizes the sense of brotherhood he shared with his teammates, describing them as his 'other brothers.' He highlights how the diverse backgrounds and personalities in the locker room came together as a unified group, relying on and respecting one another's differences to achieve success.

๐Ÿ’กDetermination

Determination refers to a firm or unwavering resolve to achieve a goal or objective, despite challenges or obstacles. Throughout the video, Kelce's determination is portrayed as a driving force behind his success. He talks about his determination to prove himself, work hard, and overcome setbacks, fueled by the doubts and criticisms he faced throughout his career. His determination is exemplified by his willingness to put in the effort and persevere, even when faced with adversity.

๐Ÿ’กResilience

Resilience is the ability to recover quickly from difficulties or setbacks and adapt to challenging or changing circumstances. Kelce's resilience is highlighted in the video as he discusses overcoming injuries, doubts, and struggles during his career. He talks about bouncing back from a difficult 2016 season where he was widely criticized and faced trade rumors, only to have his best season the following year. His resilience allowed him to persevere and bounce back stronger, adapting to the challenges he faced.

๐Ÿ’กPassion

Passion refers to a strong, intense, and driving emotion or enthusiasm for something. Kelce's passion for football is evident throughout the video, as he describes the visceral feeling and intensity he experienced when stepping onto the field. He talks about loving every aspect of the game, from backyard games with his brother to suiting up on Friday nights in high school. His passion for the sport fueled his dedication and commitment, ultimately leading to his successful career with the Eagles.

๐Ÿ’กMentorship

Mentorship refers to the guidance, support, and wisdom provided by an experienced individual to someone who is less experienced or in need of guidance. In the video, Kelce acknowledges the importance of mentorship in his career, thanking coaches and individuals like Jeff Stoutland, who believed in him and played a pivotal role in his development and success. He credits Stoutland's belief in him as a turning point, highlighting the impact that mentors can have in shaping and nurturing an individual's growth and achievements.

Highlights

The feeling before a football collision, the anticipation of what is about to happen, and the smell of freshly mowed grass bring back vivid memories of playing football as a child.

Football was the most alive and free feeling ever experienced, with a visceral intensity unlike any other sport, where hitting someone and running around like a lunatic was praised.

As a walk-on at the University of Cincinnati, the speaker had to fight harder for opportunities than the rest of the team, having no stars or investment from the team or coaches, and had to earn everything.

The strength coach, Paul Longo, moved the speaker to offensive line, which ended up being the single greatest move that ever happened in their career.

The speaker thanks various coaches, teammates, and support staff at the University of Cincinnati for their guidance and support during those enjoyable years.

Getting drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the sixth round felt perfect, as the speaker's game emulated Jeff Stoutland's coaching philosophy.

The speaker expresses gratitude towards the four head coaches he played for in Philadelphia and the Eagles organization for valuing its employees and providing resources to thrive.

The speaker thanks Howie Roseman for drafting him and working hard to improve the team, as well as Dom Dandro for being the life force of the organization.

Unforgettable moments include Jason Peters' impressive pass-setting, the camaraderie at a short-lived bar, Garrett Reid's tragic passing, Chip Kelly's innovative offense, the Blizzard Bowl, Carson Wentz's injury, the Philly Special play, and the Super Bowl parade.

The speaker's mother became known as the 'Mom of the NFL,' representing all mothers who have sacrificed for their children.

Jeff Stoutland's unwavering belief in the speaker during a difficult 2016 season, and their subsequent work together, led to the speaker's finest season and recognition as one of the best centers in the game.

The speaker cherished the brotherhood and relationships formed with teammates from diverse backgrounds in the NFL's melting pot environment.

Meeting his future wife, Kylie, at a Christmas party in 2014 changed the speaker's life, and she brought out the best in him, leading to his most successful years on and off the field.

The speaker's parents, particularly his father's unwavering belief and his mother's determination to pursue higher education, instilled in him the values of hard work and perseverance.

The speaker acknowledges himself as 'vastly overrated' but attributes his success to hard work and determination, fueled by doubters and his parents' encouragement to achieve anything through effort.

Transcripts

00:28

yes I can hear your SP

00:58

e

01:28

for

01:42

one

01:44

straight just

01:58

wait

02:28

e

02:59

come

03:27

a to the

03:28

throne

03:58

next

04:28

the door

04:58

com

05:00

it's

05:02

fine

05:08

[Music]

05:28

take

05:58

yeah

06:28

spe

06:58

TR

07:28

e

07:58

for

08:28

e

08:58

e

09:28

for

09:46

thanks for coming

09:49

guys we'll see how long this

09:58

lasts

10:11

not a good start there we

10:19

go there I

10:28

lay

10:54

come oh man this is going to be

10:58

long

11:00

there I lay face up in the cool

11:03

morning's Dew covered grass waiting for

11:06

a whistle I knew would come at any

11:10

second knowing full well Anthony harell

11:13

was a couple yards away on the ground

11:15

waiting for the

11:17

same the foreign objects that rest upon

11:20

my shoulders and head weighed me down

11:23

and

11:23

unbalanced my awaiting

11:27

body

11:57

oh

12:14

as a whistle blue I

12:17

arose turned all in one motion and ran

12:20

at my

12:27

teammate

12:32

it isn't even the Collision I remember

12:35

most but the feeling

12:38

before of what in the is about to

12:57

happen

13:03

how is it going to feel will I

13:10

win whenever I smell the clippings of a

13:13

freshly mowed

13:18

grass I am brought back to this

13:27

day

13:33

I brought back to this

13:36

day 12 years

13:42

old rockboro middle school first day in

13:46

pads I've been asked many times why did

13:48

I choose football What drew me to the

13:50

game and I never have an answer that

13:52

gets it

13:54

right the best way I can explain it is

13:57

what draws you to your favorite song

13:59

your favorite book it's what it makes

14:02

you

14:03

feel the seriousness of it the intensity

14:06

of it stepping on the field was the most

14:09

alive and free I had ever

14:12

felt there was a visceral feeling with

14:15

football unlike any other sport the

14:17

hairs would on my arms would stand

14:20

up the hairs on my arms would stand

14:23

up I could hit somebody run around like

14:27

a crazy lunatic

14:29

and then get told good

14:31

job I love football whether it was in my

14:35

backyard with my

14:39

brother on the playground with my

14:41

friends or suiting up on Friday nights

14:43

at Cleveland Heights High

14:45

School I love every I loved everything

14:47

about

14:48

it although I hadn't met him yet Jeff

14:51

stoutland often shares a quote his

14:52

father would tell

14:55

him more often than not the easy way is

14:59

the wrong

15:00

way football was hard much harder than

15:03

any sport I had ever played physically

15:06

and mentally in most other sports I was

15:09

bigger faster stronger than everyone

15:12

else on the football field those traits

15:14

were

15:15

matched on the lacrosse field I felt

15:18

like LeBron

15:19

James on the football field I was Billy

15:23

Hoy i l the challenge the football was

15:27

the joy of winning the agony of defeat

15:30

the anxiety of the unknown and the

15:41

camaraderie of my

15:44

teammates I'd like to thank my high

15:47

school football coaches Mike Jones Damen

15:50

creel Kahari Hicks and Gary roboli I

15:54

don't coach Robo you know who you are uh

15:57

my hockey coaches Kirt Gump Steve bogus

16:00

and Eddie babcox and my lacrosse coaches

16:02

Felipe Gana and Ben

16:04

Beckman I'd also like to thank my band

16:06

teacher Brett Baker all of you Tau me

16:09

taught me countless lessons and put up

16:11

with a very young rambunctious kid that

16:13

was full of immaturity stupidity and

16:17

Cockiness I without would without

16:19

question not be where I am today without

16:21

your

16:21

efforts with me and the countless other

16:24

children you served in my brother and

16:26

I's Hometown Cleveland Heights

16:29

from Cleveland Heights I entered the

16:31

University of Cincinnati as a

16:33

walk-on as a linebacker I had no idea

16:35

what to expect but scenes from Rudy

16:38

would often race in my

16:40

mind it became apparent immediately that

16:43

Walk-Ons would have to fight harder for

16:45

their opportunities than the rest of the

16:47

team I had no stars no investment from

16:51

the team or the coaches I'd have to earn

16:54

everything and that's good because I had

16:56

no clue what hard work was was

16:59

yet knowing that I had to earn my

17:01

respect every day made me committed like

17:03

never

17:04

before in my first college weightlifting

17:07

session graduate assistant Jordan Roth

17:09

put me through the hardest weightlifting

17:10

session I had ever been through at the

17:14

end of it he said if I could walk around

17:16

the perimeter of the weight room holding

17:17

my hands above my head I could

17:20

leave um and if I couldn't hold my hands

17:24

above my head I'd have to stay and clean

17:25

the whole waight

17:27

room that entire year I found out later

17:31

that uh cleaning the weight room was

17:33

something I would get used

17:36

to that entire year I consider a

17:38

blessing dantonio ran a tough program

17:41

the weight room was even tougher and I

17:42

redefined in my mind what working hard

17:45

actually

17:45

was they pushed me into areas of fatigue

17:48

I didn't know I had and for that

17:50

experience I am forever grateful to all

17:52

of them after red shirting my first year

17:55

marked Antonio left Cincinnati for

17:57

Michigan State and we hired up and

17:59

cominging head coach from Central

18:01

Michigan Brian

18:03

Kelly this turned out to be the biggest

18:05

turning point in my career not because

18:07

of Brian he was great and we enjoyed

18:10

tremendous success together but because

18:13

he brought with him strength coach Paul

18:15

Longo two weeks into the winter workouts

18:18

Paul whispered to me in the middle of

18:19

warm-ups you'd make a great

18:27

Center

18:32

I Shrugged it

18:33

off offensive line never in a million

18:36

years that I think I'd play that

18:39

position Paul was different as opposed

18:43

to working guys into the ground his

18:44

motto was work smarter not

18:46

harder his main goal was to improve us

18:49

as athletes and make us stronger faster

18:53

more explosive he didn't care about

18:55

anything

18:56

else once during a conditioning drill I

18:59

saw a teammate struggling to keep up

19:00

during a run so I slowed down to

19:02

encourage him and he yelled at me he

19:05

said you run this exercise the best you

19:07

can lead from the front it's my job to

19:10

take care of the

19:12

back Paul moved me to offensive line

19:14

that

19:21

spring and it ended up being the single

19:23

greatest move that ever happened to me

19:25

as a football

19:27

player there are too many people to

19:29

thank for my times of Cincinnati so I'd

19:30

like to limit it to coaches Paul Longo

19:32

Jeff Quinn Brian Kelly Mark Antonio

19:35

strength coaches Tim swanger Dave

19:37

Andrews coach Carrie Colmes coach

19:40

Butcher Jones as well as athletic

19:42

trainer Bob manene and orthopedic doctor

19:45

Angelo

19:47

kosimo of course all of my teammates and

19:49

Friends University support staff all of

19:51

you made my time there something I

19:53

wouldn't trade for the world some of the

19:56

most enjoyable years of my life

20:00

after my senior year ended it became

20:01

apparent the NFL would be an opportunity

20:04

although few teams had interest in a

20:06

lineman that weighed 2880

20:08

pounds lucky for me the Eagles had just

20:11

hired Howard mud a legendary coach who

20:13

valued offense of lineman for their

20:15

athleticism more than their

20:17

size having watched and emulated Jeff

20:20

Saturday in my own game it all felt Too

20:23

Perfect When the Eagles selected me in

20:24

the sixth round immediately after being

20:27

drafted my

20:28

Jason

20:29

Bernstein said you have no idea how

20:32

perfect this is you are going to fit in

20:46

great come on you're going to fit in

20:49

great in Philadelphia this is your kind

20:51

of

20:56

town 13 SE

21:00

seasons in

21:03

Philadelphia and I look back on a career

21:05

filled with ups and

21:08

downs I'd like to thank the four head

21:10

coaches I played for Andy Reid Chip

21:12

Kelly Doug Peterson and Nick

21:15

serani consider myself lucky to have

21:18

played for each of you I'd like to thank

21:21

Jeffrey lurry for his dedication to

21:23

building an organization that values its

21:25

employees as people and gives them the

21:28

resources necessary to

21:30

thrive I've only had one

21:33

boss so I don't know much to compare

21:40

to but Jeffrey always made it a point to

21:43

show his appreciation and love for his

21:46

players on and more importantly off the

21:49

field I'd like to thank howy Roseman for

21:51

drafting me and for always working hard

21:54

to improve our team even from the other

21:57

side of the building that one

22:00

year whether it be coaches players

22:03

salary cap or the numerous other things

22:04

you control you work tirelessly and

22:07

calculatedly to improve this

22:10

organization I'd like to thank big Dom

22:13

dandro truly the life force of this

22:16

organization no one gives more time and

22:19

energy to this team at the drop of a hat

22:22

Dom is by your side my family and I give

22:25

our sincerest thank yous for always

22:28

treating us with dignity and

22:30

assistance there are so many teammates

22:33

coaches support staff trainers equipment

22:35

cafeteria workers you guys have no idea

22:38

the amount of people in this building it

22:39

takes to assist our players and

22:42

me I'd like to thank you all by name but

22:45

we' be here far too long for anyone to

22:47

continue listening so instead I will

22:50

share memories if that's all right with

22:52

you all when I look back down the road

22:55

I'm sure there are things I will forget

22:57

but but these are some of the things I'm

22:59

sure I

23:00

won't I won't forget the call I got from

23:02

Andy Reid on draft day and my father

23:05

rushing into the

23:13

room come

23:15

on with tears streaming down his face as

23:19

his son's

23:21

dreams had just been

23:24

realized it had just been announced on

23:26

TV I had been drafted by the

23:28

Philadelphia

23:30

Eagles and I won't forget two years

23:33

later that same

23:39

man and my brother receiving a

23:43

call and him being drafted by the Kansas

23:45

City

23:47

Chiefs this time the

23:50

tears streaming down both my father and

23:53

I face as my brother had just realized

23:55

his

23:56

own

24:02

I won't forget the first time I saw

24:03

Jason Peters do a one-on-one pass set

24:05

with Trent Cole and being amazed at the

24:08

speed balance and power I had just

24:11

witnessed it reminded me or looked like

24:13

a grizzly bear wrestling a

24:15

panther it was so impressive it made me

24:18

question if I was good enough to play it

24:20

in this

24:21

league I watched the next couple guys go

24:23

and thought okay I can do

24:26

this

24:28

I won't forget Thirsty Thursdays at 879

24:31

a bar owned by Brent celic and Todd

24:33

harmans that stayed open a whole six

24:35

months because nobody paid for a

24:40

drink poor business practices indeed

24:43

that bar may have closed quickly but the

24:45

friendships at Forge remain open to this

24:56

day I won't forget my second training

24:59

camp walking downstairs on my Lehigh

25:01

doorm to paramedics rushing in and Coach

25:05

Dave Cy's look on his

25:08

face and made the

25:11

expression like he had seen a

25:26

ghost

25:37

a whole lot

25:38

clearer I asked if I could

25:43

help and he said no just go to

25:48

practice come

25:50

on we' find out later at practice that

25:53

Garrett Reed had passed

25:56

away only a few hours after that Andy

25:59

addressed the

26:02

team it's the most intense moment I've

26:04

ever shared with a group of

26:06

men and the outpouring of support and

26:09

love for my

26:15

friend and the Reed family at the

26:18

funeral soon after

26:19

was truly

26:22

remarkable I won't forget Chip Kelly's

26:25

first game as Eagles head coach against

26:27

the Washington and

26:28

Redskins we ran close to 50 plays in the

26:31

first half we were so tired but it

26:33

didn't

26:35

matter because they couldn't stop us the

26:38

NFL had never seen something like this

26:41

before I remember all of us thinking

26:43

after that game this is going to change

26:44

the

26:46

NFL I won't forget walking out onto a

26:49

snowless field before warm-ups against

26:52

the Detroit

26:53

Lions and then walking out of the tunnel

26:55

to a

26:56

blizzard the Lions and white jerseys

26:58

blended into the snow so well I could

27:01

not see the secondary of the

27:03

defense and the second half was all the

27:06

Sha McCoy he somehow figured out a way

27:09

to cut on a dime that day and man it was

27:12

incredible to watch it was probably the

27:15

most fun game of football I've ever been

27:18

in it felt like we were all kids again

27:20

that day just playing in the

27:25

backyard I won't forget finding out

27:28

in the 2017 Rams

27:31

game that Carson went at tour his

27:34

ACL the whole team had an uneasy feeling

27:37

in the locker room all of us questioning

27:40

what this would mean until Malcolm

27:43

Jenkins addressed the team he gave a

27:45

very typical Malcolm speech invoking

27:48

confidence in who we were and breaking

27:50

it down with his patented we all we got

27:52

we all we

27:55

need I won't forget Nick FES having the

27:58

game of his life on the biggest stage

28:02

possible and the biggest dick on the

28:04

team going up to Doug

28:06

Peterson and asking for the Philly

28:10

special and Doug Peterson having the

28:12

biggest balls in the

28:25

stadium to say yeah let's do it

28:30

and Brandon Graham finding a way to stop

28:32

Tom Brady

28:33

once literally

28:36

once and the way the ball hung in the

28:38

air on that last Hill Mary and how it

28:40

felt like an

28:42

eternity just looking no sound

28:46

registering completely engulfed in the

28:48

moment when it finally landed running

28:52

onto the field looking for a flag

28:55

anything that would mean it was over

28:59

we had done

29:02

it I won't forget the parade and what it

29:04

meant to the city of

29:06

Philadelphia The Joy it brought our

29:08

community and the closure it gave to so

29:11

many the stories from fans that had been

29:14

waiting generations for that moment

29:16

fulfilled that Triumph to another

29:19

level on the route I remember meeting a