by Beyond the Usual Motivators: What Really Drives Jason Kelce
Jason Kelce has established himself as one of the top centers in the NFL over his 10-year career with the Philadelphia Eagles. However, what sets Kelce apart from many other athletes is not just his on-field performance, but his unique approach to motivation. While championships and accolades are certainly goals for any competitor, Kelce seems to find inspiration from more personal places. A closer look reveals motivators like family competition, an internal love of the challenge itself, and a persistence in overcoming obstacles. These examples show Kelce is fueled by more than just the standard athlete aspirations.
Brotherly Competition
One of Kelce’s biggest motivators is the friendly rivalry he has with his brother, Travis Kelce, who plays tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs. The brothers regularly compete against each other when the Eagles and Chiefs match up, and Jason has yet to earn a victory over his sibling. “Every time I play against him, I want to beat him,” Kelce said. “We’re always trying to one-up each other.”
This brotherly competition serves as extra motivation for Jason to prepare as well as possible whenever he faces off against Travis and the Chiefs. It adds an element of pride and bragging rights on the line beyond just the team result. While many athletes may downplay family rivalries, Kelce openly acknowledges it as a driving force. He wants to be able to finally say he got the better of his brother when they meet on the field.
The rivalry extends beyond just Travis as well. Kelce is also still seeking his first win over Andy Reid, his former coach with the Eagles who is now the head coach in Kansas City. Not being able to defeat either his brother or Reid provides Kelce with a chip on his shoulder every time the Eagles battle the Chiefs. It’s a uniquely personal motivation rather than just chasing another team victory.
Internal Drive for Competition
Beyond family rivalries, Kelce’s motivation also comes from a deep internal drive to compete at the highest level. While past Super Bowl losses may haunt some players and fans, Kelce views them differently. For him, coming up short in the championship is not what defines him or the season. He’s already accomplished so much just by making it to the big game.
As Kelce explained, “Getting to the Super Bowl is an amazing accomplishment, but it’s not the end all, be all. It’s something I’m proud of, but it doesn’t define me as a player or what the season was.” His outlook shows an appreciation for the challenge itself rather than being consumed by past failures or successes. Kelce is motivated by pushing his abilities to the limit in the biggest moments, not chasing any specific result.
This mindset allowed Kelce and the Eagles to bounce back strong from their Super Bowl LII loss to the Patriots. While that defeat was crushing, Kelce harnessed his internal competitive fire to fuel another deep playoff run the following season. Coming so close to the top prize only lit a fire in Kelce to put in maximum effort to get back there. He’s driven foremost by his love of competition and testing his skills against the best, with the outcomes ultimately out of his control.
Persistence Through Adversity
Another source of Kelce’s motivation comes from his ability to persist in the face of obstacles. He entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent after not receiving a scholarship offer from a Division I football program out of high school. This early adversity could have ended Kelce’s football dreams before they really began. However, with encouragement from his parents to keep pursuing his goals, Kelce landed at Cincinnati and worked his way to becoming a sixth round draft pick of the Eagles in 2011.
Since entering the league, Kelce has had to overcome doubters at nearly every step. As a smaller center at just 6’3″, many questioned if he had the size to hold up in the trenches of the NFL. Through tireless work in the weight room and film room, Kelce has turned himself into a perennial Pro Bowler and one of the league’s best at his position. His ability to thrive despite the obstacles in his path fuels Kelce’s competitive fire. He’s motivated to continue proving people wrong and exceeding expectations.
As Kelce reflected, “My parents always told me to keep pushing forward and to never give up. That persistence is what has led me to have this kind of success.” Now in his 10th season, Kelce is still going strong while many of his draft classmates have fallen off. His persistence in the face of naysayers and ability to adapt his game has extended his career longevity. Kelce finds inspiration from within to keep working towards his goals no matter the roadblocks.
Unique Sources of Motivation
Through these examples, it’s clear Jason Kelce is driven by more than just the standard athlete motivators of championships, accolades, and statistical benchmarks. While those are certainly goals, Kelce’s fire seems to come from a mix of competitive family rivalries, an internal love of challenge, and a persistence to overcome any hurdle in his path. He finds motivation from proving people wrong at every stage of his journey.
Rather than being defined by past successes or failures on football’s biggest stages, Kelce is motivated by pushing himself to continuously get back there and compete against the best. The intangible factors like competing against his brother Travis and former coach Andy Reid add a unique personal element beyond just the team result. Kelce’s journey shows the power of being fueled by more than just external factors outside of one’s control.
Through it all, Kelce maintains an appreciation for the opportunity to compete at an elite level and better himself each day. His outlook has allowed him to sustain an impressive career spanning over a decade now. As he enters his age 33 season, Kelce remains as motivated as ever to continue proving doubters wrong and cementing his legacy as one of the greats at his position. His sources of inspiration provide an inside look into what truly drives one of the NFL’s most resilient and dedicated competitors.
