Jason Kelce let his trainer tape his ankle one last time in wholesome gesture before the retirement press conference

Jason Kelce's trainer Joe O'Pella shared the wholesome story on his social media profile.

Jason Kelce let his trainer tape his ankle one last time in wholesome gesture before the retirement press conference

Jason Kelce with trainer Joe O'Pella (Image via Instagram/ trainerjoe)

On Monday, the Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce officially hung up his cleats following a 13-year-long career in the league. After announcing his retirement, the Eagles released a video showing Kelce thanking the team employees for their hard work. In the video, Kelce’s ankle could be seen tapped, like they would be for a game.

And now, Kelce’s longtime trainer Joe O’Pella has shared a heartwarming story behind the Eagles center’s ankle being tapped. He shared a long story on his social media profile about how Kelce let him tape his ankle one last time.

YouTube video

O’Pella didn’t get to tape Kelce’s ankle ahead of his final NFL game, since he was undergoing chemotheraphy at that time. So, the future Hall of Famer let O’Pella ankle his tape one last time ahead of the emotional press conference. 

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.
Joe O’Pella wrote on Instagram

According to O’Pella’s story, he has been tapping Kelce’s ankle and tape for the last 12 years. O’Pella believes by sharing this story, he could “add to an already remarkable legacy. The trainer’s story went viral on social media and fans were awed by Kelce’s wholesome gesture.

Joe O’Pella discloses how Jason Kelce used to check on him during his sick days

Apart from the story about Jason Kelce letting Joe O’Pella tape his ankle for one final time, the trainer also shared a story about how the Eagles center used to check on him during his sick days. O’Pella was reportedly undergoing chemotherapy during the 2023 season and Kelce made sure to check on him often.

Philadelphia Eagles' Jason Kelce
Philadelphia Eagles’ Jason Kelce (via Imago)
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.
Joe O’Pella wrote

Jason Kelce is one of the most beloved athletes in the NFL. And now, stories like these will further cement his legacy as a great human being. Kelce’s retirement has saddened many NFL fans, especially the fans of the Philadelphia-based football team.

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