Jason Kelce’s Surprising Admission About Refs Led to Lots of Questions From NFL Fans

NFL fans watching Monday night’s Eagles-Seahawks game were so confused when officials called Jason Kelce for a false start when it seemed as if he had done nothing wrong. 

You know who wasn’t confused? Jason Kelce. 

The Eagles center spoke about the penalty after the game and said the refs have been warning him for years about moving the ball up a little bit before the snap and that they finally called it. 

In case you missed it, this happened on a third-and-inches play in the red zone, and it took the Eagles out of Tush Push mode. They settled for a field goal on the drive and later lost the game, 20–17.

Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce walks off the field after his team’s loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Monday night at Lumen Field.

(AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Here’s Kelce’s explanation, via ProFootballTalk: 

“They’ve been warning me of that for years,” Kelce said. “I had a tendency to do that in the past so they’ve definitely warned me before. I’ve got to be smarter, especially in that situation.”

“I think if that’s a full yard to gain, probably not as much, but because it was so short, if I move it forward at all it’s going to be called, and I’ve just got to be smarter than that.”

Fans had questions about why he was able to get away with it for so many years: 

They’ve been “warning” Kelce to stop cheating for years and just finally did something about it? https://t.co/qgtz7v2JDa

— Stephanie Renee (@srenee96) December 19, 2023

A. This is how you take accountability.

B. The NFL needs to stop clouding black and white issues by leaving gray areas with all these warnings. https://t.co/iCIJx6T4K3

— Air Raid | Buffalo (@TheBillsGuys) December 19, 2023

So they've known he was doing it for years and just weren't calling it lmao

just like the lane false starts. Insane https://t.co/jo3ZmW3Mcd

— Uce Ventura (@JerseyFinFan) December 19, 2023

So…offensive players do get warnings from the refs? 🤯

— Lisa_Foxx (@MediaFoxx) December 19, 2023

The NFL bending over backward trying to convince fans that they've always been consistent.

— ♛ChiefsChickTX♛ (@chiefschicktx) December 19, 2023

Never heard of a player getting warned for years before getting called for a penalty

— Dr. Mak (@Boy1der22) December 19, 2023