While long snappers might not be household names, Jason Kelce helped underscore the importance of their job.
While the guys in the trenches are an important part of any good football team, offensive linemen don’t always get the same love as the other positions. That’s not exactly fair, but it does make sense; we all love to see touchdowns, highlight reel catches, and big tackles; a fundamentally sound block doesn’t carry the same level of visual excitement.
Jason Kelce, however, has been doing his part to change that. The Philadelphia Eagles center, who may be done playing football, has joined his brother, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, in the spotlight. Between their podcast and some of Jason’s extracurricular activities—think being named one of the sexiest men alive or celebrating a Chiefs touchdown shirtless in Buffalo—at least one lineman has gotten his due.
And, during the Pro Bowl Games, Kelce helped highlight his position group in another way: By struggling to long-snap.
Although most All-Star games lack a certain je ne sais quoi, the Pro Bowl was always especially lacking; tackle football simply doesn’t translate to an exhibition game. The National Football League (NFL) seems to have understood that reality and shifted the event’s format. Now there’s a skills competition before some flag football, and the entire package is dubbed the Pro Bowl Games.
