Going back to 2011, nobody really could have predicted the NFL career Jason Kelce was fated for. Like after early projections that put him as a fourth-rounder at best, Kelce dropped to the sixth round in the lap of the Philadelphia Eagles. Hilariously, the Eagles even spelt his name wrong on their Twitter announcement. “The Eagles select C Jason Kelsey from Cincinnati with the 191st pick!” Given how embarrassingly his NFL chapter has just begun, what else could have gone wrong for the then-rookie Eagles center. Well, that’s where a Dallas Cowboys legend comes in to ensure Jason Kelce knew what the NFL really was all about.

Jason Kelce may be on his way to becoming a future Hall of Famer, given the career he has had with the Eagles. But when it came to his rookie campaign, his start wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows. After the Eagles selected Jason, he neither managed to practice with them nor sign his rookie contract. That was until the NFL lockout was over in July 2011, when Jason officially became an Eagle. And he quickly became a favorite of then-Eagles OL coach Howard Mudd. He apparently saw shades of legendary Colts center Jeff Saturday in Kelce’s game.

Just like that, it didn’t take long for him to win over the Eagles’ starting center job. Well, once his rookie season concluded, Jason also saw himself enter the Eagles’ record books. He was apparently the first rookie center in Eagles history to start all 16 games. Though his rookie season ended up going well, it was against the Cowboys, where Kelce faced all sorts of challenges. On his latest New Heights podcast episode, Kelce recalled his “welcome to the NFL moment.” 

It was seemingly week 16, the last game of his first NFL regular season. As Kelce remembered, “My welcome to the NFL moment. Nobody really knew it happened, but me and the guy that I was blocking.” So, the guy Kelce is referring to is 2-time First Team All-Pro nose tackle Jay Ratliff. “I’m playing Dallas. They’re running a 3-4 so a lot of 5-0 calls and they got Jay Ratliff at nose guard.” At that moment, Jason recalled how he didn’t know a thing about playing nose guard head-on. And taking advantage of Kelce’s rookie experience, Ratliff terrorised him all night.

“I never played a nose guard head up didn’t know how to pass at it. Howard Mudd’s trying to teach me at midweek, and I’m like trying to figure this out, and I am having a rough one,” Kelce added. Surprisingly, Jason didn’t give up a single sack to his then-QB Michael Vick. But when it came to sheer dominance head-on, Jason didn’t pan out too well. “I don’t know how I haven’t given up a sack. He’s beaten me for like four pressures. The game is three quarters over I’ve been having an awful night, and I get called for holding.”

Well, Kelce was apparently in disbelief seeing himself getting flagged. This prompted him to take a look at Ratliff and ask him whether the referee’s call was fair or not. And you won’t guess what Ratliff replied as Jason recalled, “Son. I’ve been whooping your a– all night.” Just like that, Jason got his welcome to the NFL moment courtesy of Jay Ratliff. But thankfully, Jason didn’t let that moment overshadow the career he was going to carve for himself. If he had, then we surely wouldn’t be talking about Jason Kelce right now.

Jason Kelce’s story: From a bullied rookie to an Eagles legend

Kelce’s rookie year was obviously a historical one, barring that one moment against Jay Ratliff. But little did Jason know that his sophomore year was going to present him with his biggest challenge yet. After retaining his starting center role, Jason was all set to lead the Eagles again in 2012. However, a partially torn MCL and ACL against the Ravens ended Kelce’s second year prematurely. He couldn’t return for another snap the rest of the season.

But riding on resilience and determination to keep working hard, Jason made the best possible comeback. He yet again started all 16 games, and this time, he also led the Eagles to the playoffs. Pro Football Focus graded Kelce as the best center in the NFL that season. As he topped it off, winning the Ed Block Courage Award. In his fourth year, Kelce penned a massive six-year, $37.5M extension. And to repay the Eagles’ faith in him, Kelce was even named to the Pro Bowl in 2014.

In the next few years, Kelce carried on his good work. That saw him earn his first All-Pro accolade in 2017. The following season was even bigger for Jason. As he won his first and only Super Bowl, beating Tom Brady’s Patriots. This saw him earn his second First-Team All-Pro honor. Once Kelce was done with his career, he was named to seven Pro Bowls and six First-Team All-Pro teams in total. Now he just waits for his name to be called out as a first-ballot Hall of Famer in Canton.