14 February 2024
(WJW) — Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce says although he and his brother, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, have been big in the football world for a long time, “the Taylor [Swift] world and the pop culture world, that’s a whole different level.”
The Cleveland Heights native spoke out about their newfound fame beyond sports during a recent episode of “The Big Podcast with Shaq.”
Jason Kelce embraces his brother Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce after the AFC Championship NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024, in Baltimore. The Chiefs won 17-10. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Jason said he didn’t know what fame truly was until Travis’s relationship with pop star Taylor Swift took the national spotlight.
“It’s crazy what it opens up opportunity-wise,” he said. “It’s crazy to feel how much joy you bring people or how much you affect people’s daily lives.”
But he said it also comes with its drawbacks, revealing that Travis even had to move out of his house for safety reasons.
“People were just staying by his house,” Jason said on the podcast. “And the first day he moved into his new house, a gated community, somebody knocks on his window.”
Swift is no stranger to the downsides of fame. A man was recently charged with stalking the singer outside her New York City apartment. Back in December, her team sent a cease-and-desist letter to a University of Central Florida student, demanding he stop tracking her private jet.
Taylor Swift kisses Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce after the NFL Super Bowl 58 football game against the San Francisco 49ers, Sunday, Feb. 11, 2024, in Las Vegas. The Chiefs won 25-22 against the 49ers. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Jason went on to say that he and Travis are still learning.
“It’s a new demographic that wasn’t there before,” he said.
“The key is to stay righteous,” Shaquille O’Neal told Travis during the podcast. “I’ve been watching you and your brother for a long time. I can tell you’re good, wholesome people.”
Jason and Swift were seen cheering on Travis as the Chiefs won Super Bowl LVIII against the San Francisco 49ers 25-22 in Las Vegas Sunday night.
Taylor Swift reacts during the first half of the NFL Super Bowl 58 football game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, Feb. 11, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
When asked during the podcast about rumors of retiring, Jason said he’s “still figuring it out,” but he expects to make a decision in the coming weeks.
“If I still want to play, I’m going to play,” he said. “We ended the season, quite frankly, awful. I’m just going to take some time, rest, recoup and figure it out.”