Whatever Ed & Donna Kelce Did To Help Their Sons Become Emotionally Available Should Be Studied

Jason Kelce announced his retirement from the NFL after 13 years with the Philadelphia Eagles, and while people are lauding his accomplishments, many have also noted the impact of how emotional he was during the press conference.

Jason let the tears flow as he shared the news that he was leaving professional football.

It was striking to witness Jason’s open expression of vulnerability, compassion, and sorrow. In physical appearance, Jason is the pinnacle of stereotypical masculinity: He’s 6’3, with a full beard, broad shoulders, and major muscles. He’s devoted his life to a sport that represents American masculinity in its highest form, and there he was, weeping and sharing his innermost emotions with the world

The qualities that Mama and Papa Kelce imbued in their sons break apart any notion of toxic masculinity, as they’ve clearly raised Jason and Travis to be entirely in touch with their emotions and not afraid to share them.

Here are 3 ways these proud parents did things right and taught their boys to be emotionally available:

1. They taught their sons to be loving, supportive partners.

Both Jason and Travis speak highly of their respective partners, showing that they’re willing and able to be vulnerable in their romantic relationships.

As part of his retirement announcement, Jason told the story of meeting his wife, Kylie, after an Eagles Christmas party in 2014, calling the after-party at Buffalo Billiards, “The night my life would change forever. That night, I’d meet my future wife.”

still remember the moment she walked through the door,” he said tearfully. “It was like she glided through the opening, an aura around her. Then she started talking, and I thought, ‘Man, is this what love feels like?’”

Jason described Kylie as “beautiful and smart, serious yet playful.” He credited their relationship with making him a better version of himself, saying, “I think it’s no coincidence I have enjoyed my best years of my career with Kylie by my side.”

With that acknowledgment, Jason did what many husbands neglect to do: recognize the impact that their wives’ caregiving role has on the success of their careers. “Every accolade I have ever received has come with her in my life,” he continued. “She has brought the best out of me through love, devotion, support, honesty, [and] intelligence.”

She has also given me three beautiful girls and a life that increasingly brings me more fulfillment off the field than it does on,” he said. “We’ve had a great run, Ky.”

While Travis and his girlfriend, Taylor Swift, have yet to announce any plans for marriage, the depth of their love and commitment to each other is crystal clear. In post-game footage from the Chief’s Super Bowl win, Travis and Taylor embraced, as Travis exclaimed

Thank you for coming, baby… Thank you for the support… Thank you for making it halfway across the world. You’re the best, baby.”

He’d just won the biggest game of his career for the third time, yet the first thing he did was thank his partner for showing up, for being there for him.

2. They taught Travis and Jason to support each other and take pride in each other’s wins.
During his announcement, Jason touched on balancing the complex and bittersweet emotions of losing the Super Bowl to his brother’s team in 2023.

3. The Kelces stressed the importance of prioritizing family.
Jason spoke about just how close he and Travis are, saying, “We have a small family, no cousins, one aunt, one uncle. It was really my brother and I our whole lives.”

“We did almost everything together: competed, fought, laughed, cried, and learned from each other,” he said. “We invented games — imagined ourselves as star players of that time. We’d envision making the winning plays, day after day on Coleridge Road,” he shared. “We won countless Super Bowls in our minds, before ever leaving the house.”

Both Travis and Jason have expressed how much they love and appreciate their mom, and her endlessly supportive presence in their lives. On their podcast, “New Heights,” the brothers openly teared up when talking about Donna, as Jason recalled the memory of seeing her after the 2023 Super Bowl. He shared, “When I saw Mom is when I got really emotional.”

As he spoke, Travis teared up, too. The brothers cried together, sharing a moment of vulnerability and connection.