Jason Kelce

Jason Daniel Kelce (born November 5, 1987) is a former American football center who played his entire 13-year career for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League (NFL).

A former walk-on running back, Kelce switched to fullback and then finally to offensive line after redshirting his initial year at the University of Cincinnati (UC), seeing action at center and guard in nine games in 2007 as the Bearcats went 10–3 and defeated Southern Mississippi 31–21 in the PapaJohns.com Bowl.

As a sophomore in 2008, he made 13 starts at left guard, as part of an offensive line that also included future NFL linemen Jeff Linkenbach and Trevor Canfield, which helped the UC offense average 27.3 points and 375.3 yards of total offense per game.

The Bearcats went 11–3 overall, were Big East Conference champions, and played in the FedEx Orange Bowl, where the Bearcats fell to Virginia Tech 20–7.

In 2008, his brother, Travis, began playing alongside him at Cincinnati.

In 2009, Kelce earned second-team All-Big East honors after starting 13 games at left guard as the Bearcats went undefeated in the regular season (12–0) and were again Big East Champions, once again earning a BCS Bowl berth, losing to Florida 51–24 in the Allstate Sugar Bowl.

He was moved to center for his senior season in 2010 as the Bearcats went 4–8 under new coach Butch Jones.

He started the final 38 games of his 47-game Bearcats career, 26 at left guard and 12 at center.

He was named Honorable Mention All-America and second-team All-Big East.

Despite lacking true NFL size, Kelce was projected a fourth round pick.

He was selected by the Eagles in the sixth round of the 2011 NFL draft.

He played college football for the Cincinnati Bearcats.

Kelce is a Super Bowl champion, seven-time Pro Bowl selection, and six-time first-team All-Pro selection.

Kelce is often regarded as one of the greatest centers in NFL history.

Outside of football, Kelce and his brother, Travis, co-host the podcast New Heights, on which they discuss their playing careers and various other topics.

Kelce was born and grew up in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, the son of Ed Kelce, a sales rep in the steel business, and Donna, who works in banking.

He is the older brother of Travis Kelce, a tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs.

He attended Cleveland Heights High School, where he played both running back and linebacker and was twice named All-Lake Erie League.

At Cleveland Heights, he played baritone saxophone in the symphonic and jazz bands.

Kelce also played hockey and lacrosse in high school.

He ran the fastest 40-yard dash time of all offensive linemen at the 2011 NFL Scouting Combine, with a 4.89-second time.

On March 11, 2011, Kelce had an appendectomy after he was diagnosed with appendicitis.

Kelce was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the sixth round (191st overall) of the 2011 NFL draft.

Kelce was unable to practice or sign a contract until the NFL lockout was lifted on July 25, 2011.

He signed a four-year contract on July 27.

New offensive line coach Howard Mudd envisioned Kelce as in the mold of Indianapolis Colts five-time Pro Bowl center Jeff Saturday, whom Mudd coached in Indianapolis for 11 seasons.

First-round pick and fellow rookie Danny Watkins compared Kelce to a hedgehog due to his spiky hair and facial hair, in addition to his quickness and stoutness.

Kelce battled incumbent starter Jamaal Jackson for the center job early in training camp in August.

Kelce received all of the first-team reps in the week before the team's third preseason game.

He started in the third preseason game against the Cleveland Browns, and allowed a sack and was penalized for holding.

Kelce was named the starter for the season on August 29.

He became the first rookie in Eagles history to start all 16 games at center.

In 2012, Kelce was named the starting center for the second consecutive year.

On September 16, he suffered a partially torn MCL and a torn ACL in a win over the Baltimore Ravens.

Kelce would miss the rest of the 2012 season.

In the 2013 season, Kelce started all 16 games.

The Eagles reached the playoffs, and set team season records of 442 points and 6,676 yards.

He led the way for the NFL's leading rusher, LeSean McCoy, who rushed for 1,607 yards.

Kelce was graded by Pro Football Focus (PFF) as the best center in the NFL for the season.

He was also honored with the Ed Block Courage Award.