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Jason Kelce’s speech was the best part of the Super Bowl parade

PHILADELPHIA Eagles star Jason Kelce dressed like a jester but spoke like a President, and across America people listened.

3 min read
February 9, 2018 - 10:55AM
Jason Kelce was in fine form.
Jason Kelce was in fine form.

FORGET Barack Obama. Donald Trump? Nah, we don’t think so. How about NFL star Jason Kelce? Yep, we have a winner.

We’re calling it early but you won’t see a better speech this year than the one made by the Philadelphia Eagles centre at the Super Bowl parade on Friday.

Dressed to the nines looking like a jester holding court, Kelce took to the podium and let rip with an address that captivated football fans who braved the cold in Philly to thank their team for securing its first NFL title in 60 years.

He took aim at anyone who doubted his teammates, his coach, or really, anyone at the Eagles organisation.

ON VICE-PRESIDENT OF FOOTBALL OPERATIONS HOWIE ROSEMAN

“I’m going to take a second to talk to you about underdogs. Howie Roseman, a few years ago, was relinquished of all control pretty much in this organisation. He was put in the side of the building where I didn’t see him for over a year. Two years ago, when they made a decision, he came out of there a different man. He came out of there with a purpose and a drive to make this possible. And I saw a different Howie Roseman. An underdog.”

ON COACH DOUG PEDERSON

“Doug Pederson. When Doug Pederson was hired, he was rated as the worst coaching hire by a lot of freakin’ analysts out there in the media. This past off-season, some clown named Mike Lombardi told him that he was the least qualified head coach in the NFL. You saw a driven Doug Pederson. A man who went for it on fourth down. A man who went for it on fourth down in the Super Bowl with a trick play. He wasn’t playing just to go mediocre. He was playing for a Super Bowl. And it don’t stop with him. It does not stop with him.”

ON HIS TEAMMATES’ CRITICS

“Jason Peters was told he was too old. Didn’t have it anymore. Before he got hurt, he was the best freakin’ tackle in the NFL. Stefen Wisniewski ain’t good enough. Jason Kelce is too small. Lane Johnson can’t lay off the juice. Brandon Brooks has anxiety. Carson Wentz didn’t go to a Division I school. Nick Foles don’t got it. Corey Clement is too slow. LeGarrette Blount ain’t got it anymore. Jay Ajayi can’t stay healthy. Torrey Smith can’t catch. Nelson Agholor can’t catch. Zach Ertz can’t block. Brent Celek is too old. Brandon Graham was drafted too high. Vinny Curry ain’t got it. Beau Allen can’t fit the scheme. Nigel Bradham can’t catch. Jalen Mills can’t cover. Patrick Robinson can’t cover. It’s the whole team! It’s the whole team!”

ON HUNGRY DOGS

“This entire organisation was a bunch of driven men to accomplish something. We were a bunch of underdogs. And you know what an underdog is? It’s a hungry dog. (Offensive line coach) Jeff Stoutland has had this in our building for five years. It’s a quote in the O-line room that has stood on the wall for the last five years: Hungry dogs run faster. And that’s this team. Bottom line is, we wanted it more.

“Any of you know who the biggest underdog is? It’s y’all, Philadelphia ... Everybody wonders why we’re so mean. Everybody wonders why the Philadelphia Eagles aren’t the nicest fans. If I don’t eat breakfast, I’m f***ing pissed off.

“No one wanted us. No one liked this team. No analyst liked this team to win the Super Bowl and nobody likes our fans. And you know what? I just heard one of the best chants this past day, and it’s one of my favourites and it’s new, and I hope you learn it. Because I’m about to drop it right now.

“You know what I got to say to all those people who doubted us, all those people that counted us out, and everybody who said we couldn’t get it done? What my man Jay Ajayi just said: F*** you!”

WARNING: COARSE LANGUAGE

REACTION

America frothed over the epic speech. Philly.com’s Marcus Hayes said “Jason Kelce is exactly the sort of athlete Philadelphia deserves” and explained why his words were so poignant.

“Kelce’s instant classic, his Art Museum Address, resonated with Philadelphians because it was just like them. And just like him. Passionate. Genuine,” Hayes wrote.

“Kelce channelled their frustrations into his fiery sermon on the mount. They relished his recriminations. They rejoiced in his revenge. It was raw, and a bit profane, but it was real.

“It was 100 per cent Philly.”

SB Nation lauded Kelce’s “spectacular” effort and his Wikipedia page was edited to call him “the next president of the United States”.

Twitter went wild, too.

Originally published as Jason Kelce’s speech was the best part of the Super Bowl parade

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