2 juveniles charged in mass shooting at the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl parade
16 February 2024
DALLAS, Texas (KXAS) – NFL star Jason Kelce has responded to a Dallas family after they said the luchador mask he famously wore at Super Bowl parties belonged to their son.
On this week’s “New Heights” podcast, Jason talked about finding the mask on the floor at the after-party and picking it up. He also apologized to whoever he took it from.
The person happens to be eighth grader Elijah Smith from Dallas.
“I gave him my mask, and then he dropped it and picked it back up,” Elijah Smith said. “And then, I got a picture and just hung out next to them for five to 10 minutes. They were dancing and everything. And I saw videos of him wearing it at the next after-party, so he clearly never took it off the whole night.”
Elijah says he and his friend tried to run after Jason, but it was extremely crowded and loud. Now, he and his parents hope to get it back as a good luck charm for next season.
“The only thing is Jason, if you’re listening, we just need the mask back before the season starts. Because it’s a lucky mask, and so the Chiefs need the luck rather than the Eagles, I’m sorry we’re not Eagles fans,” Tim Smith, Elijah’s father, said.
“Last year, when I wore it in Arizona, I feel like every single time I put it on, we would score a touchdown,” Elijah said.
Elijah also wore it at the Super Bowl after-party last year. That’s when Chiefs player Trent McDuffie signed the mask.
“It has a huge autograph on the side,” Elijah said.
The Smith’s say the mask has been worn to four Super Bowls.
“I was wearing it part of the game because I was definitely sweating a lot in it,” Elijah added.
The family hopes they will find the mask, but if not, they are just grateful they got to be at the Super Bowl.
“He was happy. He was excited. There was so much celebrating going on and dancing. You couldn’t help but be excited, and I asked him when we got back to the room, ‘Wait, he has your mask?’ He’s like, ‘Yeah,’ and I’m like, ‘Are you upset?’ And he just wasn’t upset. He was a little bummed because it’s his autographed mask with Trent McDuffie. That was upsetting, but at the end of the day, we were all celebrating a Super Bowl win,” Sarah Smith, Elijah’s mother, said.
“It would be pretty cool if he autographed it and sent it back,” Elijah said.
Jason Kelce posted a picture with Elijah on X, formerly Twitter, that, “Operation ‘Get Elijah His Mask Back’ is underway! I appreciate everyone bringing this to my attention, and look forward to uniting Elijah with his mask once again. Your mask indeed brings great fortune, I owe you big time, sorry it was commandeered.”