For over a decade, the Philadelphia Eagles were anchored by their “Core Four” – a legendary group of veterans that includes Fletcher Cox, Jason Kelce, Lane Johnson, and Brandon Graham.
But with Graham officially announcing his retirement, a noticeable absence at his farewell left fans curious: Where was Jason Kelce???
While Cox and Johnson stood proudly by Graham’s side during the emotional press conference at the NovaCare Complex, Kelce was nowhere to be seen.
Given the deep camaraderie among the group, his absence raised some eyebrows and left many wondering if there was a rift between the two Philly legends.
As it turns out, Kelce wasn’t skipping the moment – he was simply occupied.
The future Hall of Famer was filming an episode of his podcast, New Heights, alongside his brother and Kansas City Chiefs tight end, Travis Kelce.
A clip from the episode, shared by the New Heights team, proved Kelce was thinking about Graham the entire time.
The brothers spent part of the episode reminiscing about Graham’s fiery personality, legendary mic’d-up moments, and relentless energy on the field.
“Brandon Graham, when you guys lost the toss, made sure that he told whoever called it right on the Bills, ‘It don’t matter,'” Travis Kelce said with a laugh.
Despite missing the ceremony, Jason Kelce’s admiration for Graham is unmistakable.
The two have been cornerstones of the Eagles’ identity for years, both drafted in 2010 and rising to become fan favorites and locker-room leaders.
Earlier this season, after Graham sustained an injury, Kelce didn’t hold back when talking about what his teammate meant to the organization.
“B.G. is on the Mount Rushmore of Philadelphia Eagles,” Kelce said at the time. “I don’t know that anybody represents the Eagles better than Brandon Graham.”
While fans may have hoped to see all four Core Four members together one last time, Kelce’s absence from the podium doesn’t reflect a lack of respect.
His heartfelt words – and years of shared battles – make that clear. (Although it’s fair to wonder if he could’ve just moved the podcast taping.)
Regardless, Brandon Graham becomes the third of the Core Four to hang up his cleats, joining Kelce and Cox in retirement.
Only Lane Johnson remains, keeping the torch lit for one of the most beloved eras in Eagles history.
What are your thoughts on Kelce missing Graham’s event???
