Jason Kelce and brother Travis will make history as the first brothers to face each other in the Super Bowl when the Philadelphia Eagles take on the Kansas City Chiefs next week.
In a pulsating AFC Championship Game, Patricks Mahomes overcame adversity in his ankle injury to lead the Chiefs past the Cincinnati Bengals with a 23-20 win at Arrowhead Stadium. Mahomes entered the game without a win in three meetings with Bengals star Burrow, but the MVP favourite ensured he finally got one over his rival as Harrison Butker sunk the clinching field goal to win with three seconds remaining.
Meanwhile, the Eagles booked their first trip to the Super Bowl since 2018 as they crushed the San Francisco 49ers 31-7 in a one-sided NFC Championship Game. The 49ers suffered a number of key injuries with rookie quarterback Brock Purdy hurting his elbow as he fumbled while his replacement - fourth-string quarterback Josh Johnson - suffered a concussion and left the game himself.
Purdy subsequently returned and played through his injury but the 49ers offence was severely hamstrung as the seventh round pick couldn’t throw the ball effectively. It meant the Eagles coasted to victory on the back of four rushing touchdowns, with running back Miles Sanders snagging two.
Mahomes’ first touchdown pass found the hands of star tight end Travis, while the Eagles run game dominated thanks to the fine work of Jason, anchoring the offensive line. The brothers each have a Super Bowl ring already after the Eagles won in 2018 while the Chiefs conquered the NFL a year later, but one will have long-term bragging rights as well as a second title.
When Travis and Jason line up on opposite sides of the field, they will make history as the first brothers to play against each other in a Super Bowl. The Eagles center quickly fired a warning to his sibling after the Chiefs defeated the Bengals, posting: “Officially done being a Chiefs fan this season!!”
His post on Twitter came hours after Jason told reporters he was pulling for the Chiefs in the AFC Championship - but his fandom ended there. The 35-year-old said: “I’ve got a Kansas City sweatshirt I’m gonna wear for the next three hours, and then that’s it for the rest of the year.
“Win or lose, I’m done being a Chiefs fan in three hours.”
He added: “It’s been a fun year for Trav and I on multiple levels. It’d be really special obviously playing against him and Andy Reid and a lot other familiar faces.”
In the win over the Bengals, Travis made seven catches for 78 yards and a touchdown as the tight end showcased the importance of his role in the Chiefs offence. When asked about facing Jason and the Eagles, he added: “My mum can’t lose.”
Jason is a six-time All-Pro and five-time Pro Bowler, while he was a key fixture for Philadelphia's 2017 Super Bowl-winning team. Meanwhile, Travis is a seven-time All-Pro and eight-time Pro Bowler who caught a career high 110 receptions for 1,338 yards and 12 touchdowns this season.
The Kelce brothers are not the first siblings to face off in any capacity at the Super Bowl, though. John Harbaugh coached the Baltimore Ravens to glory in Super Bowl XLVII over his brother Jim’s San Francisco 49ers.
The Eagles will face the Chiefs in Super Bowl LVII at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Arizona on February 12.
