CELEBRITY
Jason Kelce had Eagles trainer who’s fighting cancer tape his ankles for retirement speech
When Jason Kelce announced his retirement, the Eagles released a video showing Kelce thanking team employees for their years of hard work. A close look at that video revealed something unusual: Kelce’s ankles were taped, the way they would be for a game. It turns out that the ankle tape reflected a special relationship between Kelce and a team trainer.
Eagles trainer Joe O’Pella wrote on social media that he had been taping Kelce’s ankles every game for years. But O’Pella but missed the final game of Kelce’s career, the playoff loss in Tampa, because he was getting chemotherapy. So Kelce asked O’Pella to be the last person to tape his ankles as an Eagle, and do it before his retirement speech.
You all know about the on-field accomplishments, and many of the off-field ones, too, but what this man has meant to me and now my family over the past decade plus is nearly indescribable,” O’Pella wrote. “In what would be his final season, when I was diagnosed with cancer and had to undergo radiation and chemo, he offered his shore house if I needed to get away, and offered to pay for meal services to help my wife and me out, and he called me randomly when I had been home, too sick to come in because of chemo, just to check on me and chat about random things. That’s who he is as a person. I taped this guy’s ankles and thumbs everyday for 13 seasons, and when he played his last game in Tampa, again I couldn’t be there due to cancer. And when he told me he would be
retiring and I expressed my regret of not being the last person to ever tape him, he offered to have me tape him for his retirement press conference. That’s who he is. And I hope theses stories can add to an already unbelievable legacy.”
In the video of Kelce addressing Eagles employees, he expresses his gratitude.
“Thank you so much fo everything that everyone in here does and means to this organization, to the players,” Kelce said. “It’s been an honor to work with all of you.”
The feeling is clearly mutual.
Ben Affleck adopts a security dog and takes it on a walk around his Brentwood neighborhood with son Sam
Maya Jama sizzles in chic co-ord as she casually holds a HUGE snake in new clip
Gladiators viewers declare ‘show is ruined’ after fan favourite is forced to quit the competition
EXCLUSIVEPaul O’Grady’s furious neighbours accuse widower of trying to ‘cash in’ on ‘best house in Kent’ after slashing asking price of £3.5m Edwardian mansion following holiday let row
Henry Cavill and girlfriend Natalie Viscuso take rarely-seen baby for a stroll on Gold Coast as he prepares to film new Voltron movie Down Under 298
Alison Hammond, 49, packs on the PDA as she puts on a VERY passionate display with her toyboy boyfriend David, 27 – shutting down rumours the couple have split
Molly-Mae Hague opens up on daughter Bambi’s heartbreaking comment that left star in tears
Inside Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s podcast disaster: Actress was turned down by Taylor Swift and Beyonce and Duke had hairbrained idea to interview Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump to talk about being ‘sociopaths’
Lottie Tomlinson says she’s in a ‘Flossie bubble’ as she shares sweet new family snaps with her newborn daughter: ‘Never been more in love’
Vanity Fair article raises questions about Meghan Markle’s claims that Royals made her wear neutrals – as she wore the hues before and after Mexgit
EXCLUSIVEBritain’s Got Talent’s Tom Ball becomes a father: Singer confirms his wife Hannah has given birth to a baby girl and reveals her adorable name 6
