Jason Kelce ends his career in the NFL. An emotional affair for “Icke” Dommisch. He has a lot in common with the Philadelphia Eagles center, as he reveals.

There’s news like that that hits you hard. Kind of unprepared.

Because you don’t necessarily want to admit it in advance. You’re then caught completely on the wrong foot and really shaken up. Then it gets emotional. Moving. Like with Jason Kelce now. It may come as a bit of a surprise, but I’m really sad that he’s quitting.

Of course, it was a bit predictable, and what for many is the retirement of Tom Brady, for me is the end of Kelce’s career. You see it coming, but you’re still blown away when the time comes.

Because I associate a lot of the football time I’ve experienced so far with him.

Jason Kelce: Oktoberfest and beer

I met Jason in 2017, in August, when we were at training camp with the Eagles. Before a season where you couldn’t expect them to go far.

The Eagles put Jason up for an interview back then. Reason: he likes Oktoberfest and beer. Classic cliché thinking.

But our first meeting was completely different. I got to know him as a very nice, approachable and interested guy. He was really interested, asked where we were from, what we did with football, whether there was a target group. It wasn’t superficial, he was actually interested.

And, of course, Oktoberfest was a great opportunity – so at the end of the interview I made him a bet: “If you get to the Super Bowl, I’ll give you a German beer.”

The rest is Eagles history.

You have to know this: He wasn’t the superstar he is today back then. In the hot week before the Super Bowl win a few months later, he was a two-time Pro Bowler, was on the All-Pro team – but who talks big about O-linemen?

Looking back, it’s almost unbelievable: he didn’t have his own podium back then, he sat at a table of less important players. He wasn’t that special yet, not many people were interested in him.

That’s one of the reasons why I sat down with him again. And he remembered me. And our bet. “I want that beer,” he said. And then the Eagles actually won the Super Bowl.

The pictures have long been legendary: at the parade he wore this crazy costume, this carnival costume, he gave the speech and has been a star ever since. Nobody knows Center, nobody talks about them much. But after that parade, Kelce was someone people talked about. And as the face of the franchise. He was the man credited with that title.

Cash the bet

And we had brought an assignment to the parade: bring Jason his German beer. We snuck through to the team bus and told Jason Peters, who was the last player to get on the bus, “Hey, please tell Jason that the Germans are outside and have two beers with them. We’d like to have a toast.”

And then he really came out of the bus, clinked his glasses with us. And gave another interview.

I met him three more times after that. The last time was last year, when the Eagles were in the Super Bowl. I was able to interview him again on the field during the NFC Championship Game because he remembered me.

I found that remarkable, yes, super flattering too. But over the years he’s always remained the same, chilled guy who’s just very, very nice, always super friendly.

And that’s become a rarity these days. Even though he was a superstar in the end, he still said “hello”, just asked what was going on in Germany, without us having a deeper relationship. Nevertheless, he was always interested, polite and respectful.

But that’s telling. It’s not without reason that the hearts of the fans flew to him. Not just because of who he is, but because he was the guy who held the Eagles together. And that’s exactly how I got to know him and that’s why I’ll miss him so much.

As an Eagles fan, the title with the parade has special meaning in my life because that really was a super fun, great day that I’ll always remember.

Also thanks to Jason Kelce.

Thank you, Jason Kelce.