Super Bowl Sunday is poised to be an emotionally charged day for Jason Kelce, the now-retired Philadelphia Eagles All-Pro center. Torn between his former team and many former teammates—who feel like family on the Philadelphia side—he must also navigate the feelings surrounding his brother, Travis, who stars for the Kansas City Chiefs.
Jason was part of ESPN’s pregame coverage on Sunday NFL Countdown prior to the game, during which he was overcome with emotion for reasons both related and unrelated to the day’s match. In a heartfelt tribute, ESPN honored Tiger Bech, a former Princeton University football player who was among the victims of a tragic New Year’s Eve terrorist attack. The attack claimed the lives of 15 people and left 30 injured, profoundly affecting the Philadelphia community, especially the Eagles.
Jason Kelce was overcome with emotion as ESPN paid tribute to Tiger Bech in a segment featuring his best friend, Ryan Quigley, who will attend the Super Bowl tonight. pic.twitter.com/9xI1AuD5XN
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) February 9, 2025
Ryan Quigley, who was present during the attack, suffered multiple serious injuries. As he copes with the loss of his best friend Tiger, the Eagles community has rallied around him. Determined to honor a promise made to Bech—a promise to attend the Super Bowl if the Eagles won the NFC—Quigley, a devoted Eagles fan, is now set to be at the game this Sunday. Having spent time at the team facility and met with current and former players, including Kelce and Brandon Graham, he’s embraced by the Eagles family.
After the poignant segment featuring Quigley aired on ESPN’s airwaves that Sunday morning, Kelce was visibly moved. It was a powerful, touching experience for both him and Rex Ryan, who found it hard to hold back tears on live television.
Here’s part of that powerful and really well-done segment by ESPN: pic.twitter.com/tXVagSPppx
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) February 9, 2025
Finally, after gathering his thoughts, Kelce shared an impactful message: “Listen, there’s some awful people in this world,” he expressed. “And I had the fortune to meet Ryan. You wouldn’t even know something happened if he wasn’t in a wheelchair before the Rams game. On one hand, something terrible can happen, but on the other, something beautiful can emerge. I’m just happy he’s going to be here on behalf of Eagles fans everywhere. Hell yeah, Ryan.”
