Move over, Uncrustables. There’s now an official PB&J sandwich for NFL players — and it’s not the longtime favorite.
Eagles offensive linemen seem to have a special relationship with the pre-made crustless sandwiches, but they’re hardly alone.
The NFL Players Association has a new official peanut butter and jelly sandwich, and Uncrustables are out. Somebody should check on the Eagles locker room.
On Tuesday, the NFLPA announced its first licensing agreement in the food and nutrition category: JAMS peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. The announcement sent shock waves through social media as Smuckers’ Uncrustable sandwiches have long held a PB&J monopoly in NFL locker rooms. In 2023, The Athletic found that NFL teams go through at least 80,000 Uncrustables a year — and the Eagles are no exception.
Although Philadelphia did not turn over their specific Uncrustable-consumption metrics to the Athletic, the sandwiches have been a longtime favorite of many Eagles and a part of a slew of viral moments.
To kickoff last season, the Eagles’ matchup against the Dallas Cowboys at Lincoln Financial Field was delayed due to lightning. After both teams returned to their locker rooms to wait out the storm, players began to get hungry. And Uncrustables saved the day. As first reported by The Dallas Morning News, multiple Eagles players entered the stadium’s field-level clubs, searching for food during the delay. To their delight, shortly after, strawberry and grape jelly-filled versions of the pre-made sandwiches were delivered to both locker rooms to keep the players at bay.
Uncrustables have had their moment on the NFL’s biggest stage, too.
On an episode of Jason and Travis Kelce’s New Heights podcast, released in the days before the Eagles’ 40-22 Super Bowl LIX victory over the Kansas City Chiefs, Jason reflected on the role the popular PB&Js played for him during his two championship appearances. For the former Eagles center, Uncrustables helped him get through the prolonged Super Bowl halftimes in 2018 and 2023.
“[The trainers] are like, ‘OK, we need to stretch at this and do this,’” Jason said. “It’s 10 more minutes. I’m pretty sure I’m not getting cold. I’m going to eat an Uncrustable and get my mind right for the second half. I don’t need you to tell me to stretch my quads.”
His younger brother and three-time Super Bowl champion agreed.
“I want to make sure everybody knows. That’s the key to halftime, the Uncrustable,” Travis added. “Get you an Uncrustable, a Capri-Sun, and go ahead and enjoy yourself.”
The Eagles offensive line, in particular, seems to have a special relation with Uncrustables. Alongside Kelce’s love of the sandwiches, his former teammate — current Eagles left guard Landon Dickerson — has become known to munch on the Smuckers’ staple on the sidelines.
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During an Eagles’ preseason matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals last year, Dickerson photobombed right tackle Lane Johnson’s midgame interview, snack in hand. The three-time Pro Bowl lineman, staring directly into the camera, ate away at an Uncrustable over Johnson’s shoulder. Quickly, Eagles color commentator Ross Tucker took notice alongside the broadcast’s cameraperson, who quickly made their way to Dickerson.
The Eagles guard, in what became a viral moment, did not break his stare and kept on eating.
But that’s just the start. The offensive line’s love for the crustless sandwich even inspired the Eagles to host their own eating competition. Center Cam Jurgens and left tackle Jordan Mailata teamed up against competitive eater Dan Kennedy to see who could eat more Uncrustables in five minutes. Despite the two 300-pound lineman being given a one-and-a-half-minute head start, Kennedy put down 44 Uncrustables to Jurgens and Mailata’s 27.
@philadelphiaeagles They didn’t stand a chance 😅 #eagles #nfl #competitiveeating #jasonkelce ♬ Funny - FASSounds
So, what’s the deal with JAMS?
The players’ new peanut butter and jelly product of choice is marketed as a healthier alternative to competitors. Its packaging boasts the sandwiches have 10 grams of protein and contain no high fructose corn syrup or seed oils. The product’s ownership group also may have given JAMS a leg-up over Smuckers. Both former Houston Texans edge rusher JJ Watt and current Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams are part-owners of the brand.
For any Eagles defenders upset by the union ditching Uncrustables, they can take out their anger against Williams in Week 3, when the Eagles face the Bears on Monday Night Football.
By all accounts, Zach Ertz is one of the most beloved players in modern Eagles history. Not only does he rank statistically as the top tight end to ever play for the team, he caught the decisive touchdown to bring Philadelphia its first Super Bowl victory, earned multiple Pro Bowl selections, and was regarded as a locker room leader. But for as strong a mark as he left on the city, Ertz had a couple tough moments with the franchise, experiences that caused him to look inward and face his demons. During a recent visit with The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane, the 35-year old Ertz reflected on how finding strength through faith helped him overcome an embarrassing mistake and bring greater balance to his life. Listen here.
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