Jason Kelce announced his retirement from the NFL on Monday in an emotional, 45-minute news conference following his 13-season career with the Eagles.
But before his poignant speech, he paid homage to a long-time member of the Eagles staff.
Kelce asked Eagles trainer Joe O’Pella to go through their normal, game-day routine of taping up Kelce’s ankles before his news conference.
MORE: Tearful Travis Kelce watches brother's retirement press conference
Why? O’Pella couldn’t perform the act before Kelce’s final game, or in any game this season, as the 16-year member of the Eagles training staff is battling cancer.
O’Pella told the story in a private Instagram post paying tribute to Kelce.
I taped this guy’s ankles and thumbs everyday for 13 seasons, and when he played his last game in Tampa, again I couldn’t be there due to cancer. And when he told me he would be retiring and I expressed my regret of not being the last person to ever tape him, he offered to have me tape him for his retirement press conference. That’s who he is. And I hope these stories can add to an already unbelievable legacy.
Kelce also called O’Pella frequently as the trainer underwent chemotherapy and radiation, offered up the use of his shore house and offered to pay for a meal service for the trainer and his family after the diagnosis, as O’Pella detailed.
“That’s who he is as a person,” O’Pella wrote.
Respect: Jason Kelce had the #Eagles' athletic trainer of 13 years tape him before his retirement announcement because he couldn't be there for Kelce's last game due to undergoing chemotherapy...
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) March 6, 2024
This is tremendous. Wow.
(via Joe O'Pella/IG) pic.twitter.com/nQ30rFatT2
Kelce shouted out O'Pella's tape job during the center's "New Heights" podcast with his brother Travis.
"He wasn't able to tape me for any of the games this year and he's taped my ankles my whole career," Jason said of O'Pella. "So, he taped my ankles for the press conference one last time. I had ankle tape on with sandals."
MORE: Why the Cavaliers honored the Kelce brothers vs. Celtics Tuesday
Kelce also revealed that O'Pella is progressing well in his cancer treatment.
"Thankfully, he's in remission. They don't have any signs of [the cancer]," Kelce said. "They're still going to, I think do an operation to really make sure, but he's looking good."
This touching story may elicit tears from NFL fans akin to those rolling down Kelce’s face as he announced his career was over. It certainly shows that Kelce was the heart and soul of the Eagles not only on the field but also off it for a decade-plus.
Now, the Eagles will be tasked with replacing the future Hall of Famer. While third-year lineman Cam Jurgens may be tapped for that role on the field, it will be a group effort to replace Kelce’s leadership within the organization.
But as Kelce's special relationship with seemingly everyone in Philadelphia shows, that will be no easy task.
