Jason Kelce shows us what true masculinity looks like

If you’re not from Philadelphia, it might be challenging to grasp what Jason Kelce means to this city. And not just as a football player and Super Bowl champion, but, more profoundly, as a man.

Masculinity can be tumultuous, often entangled with emotions fueled by competition, rage, and, unfortunately, sometimes toxicity.

We, as football fans, have a habit of idolizing our favorite athletes. We cast them as heroes and place them atop the altar of success for what a man can be because of their athletic ability: how fast they run, how high they jump, and how many people they can run over.

Kelce is built differently. He played with his heart more than any player in the history of Philadelphia sports — and, in my opinion, in all of sports.

The future Hall of Famer was fueled by his emotions and allowed them to be part of his life, both on and off the field. This is not a simple thing, especially for many men, who often either suppress their emotions or misdirect them harmfully.

Kelce, in contrast, expressed his emotions fearlessly. As he announced his retirement, he was barely able to speak for the first few minutes of the news conference. Tears flowed consistently, and Kelce took breaks to let his emotions settle as he discussed his love for a sport that had challenged him over and over again.

Honestly, I hope to love anything as much as Jason Kelce loves football, and perhaps that’s part of his message: to find and pursue what makes us feel alive, challenged, and authentically ourselves.

I hope to love anything as much as Jason Kelce loves football.

Kelce represents a multifaceted masculinity: from tailgating at Highmark Stadium to training camp brawls, from donning Mummers Parade outfits to celebrating his brother Travis’ Super Bowl victory in a luchador mask. And yet, he is also philosophical, curious, and kind-hearted, with interests across various fields — all while being a devoted husband and father to three daughters.

I’m not telling you he always handles his emotions perfectly — hell, Jason would be the first one to tell you he doesn’t. After starting a training camp brawl this past summer, Kelce told reporters: “It certainly doesn’t belong out there on the field. [I’m] a little bit ashamed it got to that level that it did. I’m certainly not happy about that.” But he took responsibility for what he did. “Everybody’s out here to be accountable and to get better, and that was unacceptable for me, and I’m just gonna try and be better moving forward and be accountable to that.”

This level of accepting accountability is something that has been uniquely challenging for many men who face the scrutiny of the public eye.

» READ MORE: Jason Kelce’s most iconic off-field moments: Chugging beers, competing at Wing Bowl, posing nude, and more

What grabs me most about Kelce is his unfiltered authenticity, how he showcases the multifaceted nature of being a dude in today’s world. His brand of masculinity — vulnerable, expressive, unguarded — challenges the conventional, often restrictive armor society expects men to wear.

His character and unabashed emotions challenge the standards men have held themselves to and beg the question, “How do we define ourselves?”

He is intelligent, thoughtful, curious, passionate, competitive; he can drink with the best of them, party with the best of them, and, as seen in this week’s news conference, cry with the best of them.

Kelce has embraced the full spectrum of emotions and doesn’t hide from them, and that’s a lesson I’m carrying with me. He reminds me that being a man isn’t about clamping down on your emotions, it’s about owning them, showing them, finding strength in them. That fire is what’s propelled Kelce to greatness on the gridiron, and what’ll drive him in whatever plays out next.

I loved watching Kelce play football, but I think I’m more excited to learn from the man off the field. I can’t play professional football, but I can recognize the courage it takes for a man to be so raw, vulnerable, and authentic.

I hope for myself — and anyone still reading this — that we can learn from Kelce’s example and find a way to embrace the complexity we so deeply feel.

Few have ever laid it all out like Jason Kelce. As he steps away from football, it’s crystal clear that Kelce — the man, not just the athlete — deserves our gratitude.

Kyle Hulehan lives in Roebling.