by Jason Kelce’s Fights: Lessons in Channeling Anger
Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce is known throughout the NFL for his fiery passion and intensity on the football field. The four-time Pro Bowler leaves it all out there for his teammates each Sunday, playing through injuries and giving maximum effort on every snap. However, there have been a couple incidents in Kelce’s past that highlight his struggles with controlling his anger and reacting impulsively in heated moments. Let’s take a deeper look at these fights and see what we can learn from them about channeling anger in a positive way.
Brotherly Brawl
One of the earliest and most formative experiences with anger for Jason came during his teenage years in a fight with his younger brother Travis. Travis Kelce would go on to become a star tight end in the NFL as well, currently playing for the Kansas City Chiefs. But back when they were just kids growing up in Cleveland, Ohio, the brothers were fiercely competitive – especially when it came to basketball.
In an interview on the Pardon My Take podcast, Jason recalled one day when things escalated during a pickup game between him and Travis. “We were playing one-on-one basketball and it was a close game. I think he beat me or something and I just lost it,” Jason said. In the heat of the moment, fueled by frustration over losing, Jason threw a punch at Travis. A full-on brawl ensued between the brothers.
Their father eventually had to intervene to break up the fight before either boy was seriously hurt. Looking back, Jason recognizes that letting his anger and competitive nature get the better of him was not the right decision. “We were just kids being kids, but it’s never the answer to handle your anger through violence,” he acknowledged. The fight strained Jason’s relationship with Travis for a time as well.
It’s a common occurrence for siblings, especially brothers, to butt heads and argue frequently while growing up. But allowing a disagreement to escalate into physical violence damages trust. For Jason, this early life experience taught him that he needs to learn control over his temper and find healthier outlets for intense emotions. Blowing up in anger often does more harm than good and isn’t the best way to resolve conflicts, even with family.
Practice Incident
Fast forward over a decade later to August 2021. The Eagles were holding joint practice sessions with the Indianapolis Colts in preparation for their preseason matchup. Near the end of one particularly chippy session, Jason lost control of his anger once again.
According to reports, Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert and Colts linebacker Zaire Franklin got into a minor scuffle after a play. Jason saw this as Franklin taking a cheap shot at his teammate. He retaliated by coming in high and launching a blindside block on Franklin, sparking a full-on brawl between the two teams that forced an early end to practice.
In his post-practice media availability, Jason acknowledged that his actions were “not the right way to handle that situation.” He later personally apologized to Franklin as well. While coming to the defense of a teammate is admirable, reacting violently only makes the situation worse. In the heat of competition during practice, strong emotions can boil over quickly – but self-control is crucial to avoid unnecessary confrontation or injury.
These two fights from different stages of Jason’s life offer valuable life lessons about managing anger constructively. Let’s examine what we can learn.
Heat of the Moment
Both of Jason’s fights occurred in the heat of intensely competitive moments – battling his brother on the basketball court as teenagers, and rushing to aid a teammate during a contentious joint practice. In these high-stakes, high-emotion situations, his normal inhibitions were lowered and impulsive reaction took over.
Many conflicts stem from reacting in anger before thinking clearly. Taking just a few seconds to remove yourself from the situation, take some deep breaths, and look at things from a level-headed perspective can prevent escalation. Jason has acknowledged he needs to learn from these experiences and not let his temper override rational thought in volatile moments.
Consequences of Anger
Jason’s outbursts resulted in negative consequences as well. His fight with Travis strained their brotherly relationship for a time. And his retaliation against Franklin during practice carried risks of potential injury or suspension.
When strong emotions are running high, it’s easy to only think about immediate satisfaction or defending one’s pride in the moment. But understanding how anger can damage important relationships or career should be a strong motivator to get angry feelings under control. Finding an outlet that doesn’t harm others or one’s own well-being is key.
Channeling Intensity Positively
Jason’s fiery passion and competitive drive are big reasons for his success in the NFL. He leaves it all on the field each week. However, there’s a difference between channeling intensity into positive aggression and letting anger consume rational thought.
The lesson is not to suppress emotion, but to constructively direct it. For Jason, that means using his motor and desire to dominate as fuel in the weight room, to finish every block, and to lift up teammates. Not as an excuse to retaliate or escalate conflict. Top athletes must learn to refocus intense feelings for optimal performance, rather than reaction.
Tips for Channeling Anger Positively
So in summary, here are some tips Jason Kelce and others can apply based on his experiences:
– Identify personal anger triggers – Know what specifically sets off strong emotions for you so they can be avoided or addressed appropriately.
– Develop healthy outlets – Make a conscious effort to redirect pent-up energy into approved activities like exercise, music, journaling rather than destructive behaviors.
– Remove yourself from heated situations – If a confrontation is brewing, take a timeout to let tempers cool before attempting to resolve issues.
– Communicate assertively but calmly – Stand up for yourself and others by expressing feelings without attacking, blaming, or escalating tension through aggressive body language or tone.
– Understand consequences – Anger often feels good in the moment but usually does more long-term harm. Consider how actions may damage important relationships or goals.
– Channel intensity productively – Use competitive drive and motor in an approved manner, like extra reps in the gym, to maximize performance rather than confrontation or rule-breaking.
With self-awareness and diligent practice of positive coping strategies, even those prone to flashes of anger like Jason Kelce can learn to constructively manage strong emotions. His experiences highlight both the challenges and importance of emotional intelligence on and off the field.
