Jason Kelce's trainer shares wholesome ankle tape story amid retirement announcement
Philadelphia Eagles' most beloved center Jason Kelce officially called it quits on Monday as he sat in front of a room full of people dear to him and delivered a 35-minute long heartfelt speech. One of the people in the room included Eagles trainer Joe O'Pella, who revealed the reason behind Kelce's taped ankles at […]
Philadelphia Eagles' most beloved center Jason Kelce officially called it quits on Monday as he sat in front of a room full of people dear to him and delivered a 35-minute long heartfelt speech.
One of the people in the room included Eagles trainer Joe O'Pella, who revealed the reason behind Kelce's taped ankles at his retirement press conference.
In an Instagram post on Tuesday, O'Pella paid a special tribute to Kelce — the kind of man he is off the field.
In his write-up, O'Pella shared the story of how Kelce had him tape his ankles one last time because O'Pella had missed the Eagles' playoff game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers due to cancer treatment.
O'Pella also shared that Kelce would check in periodically and send a meal service to the house to make things easier for him and his wife.
Kelce even offered his beach house to O'Pella's family for a getaway.
Here's everything O'Pella wrote on Instagram:
I remember back in Jason’s 2nd year, when he tore his knee, I went to the head trainer and told him that I needed to do his rehab because he needed to be treated like an athlete, not a conventional offensive lineman. What would occur over the next 12+ years would certainly impact my life in a way I never imagined.
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… 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.
Sure, Kelce will be remembered for his work on the field in Philadelphia, but it's stories like these that will genuinely have him live on forever as someone more than just an incredible athlete.
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