By the point Jason Kelce retired this spring, after a 13-year profession with the Philadelphia Eagles, he had earned standing as one of many NFL’s most well-known folks, owing to a mixture of his elite play, his presence as one half of a extremely marketable tandem of brothers, and his loving relationship with the followers in a crucible of a sports activities city.
This isn’t the form of factor that occurs to offensive linemen. However in Kelce’s final yr and a half within the NFL, three issues occurred. Jason and his spouse, Kylie, appeared with their youngsters in a Prime Video documentary that tracked the household throughout a soccer season. Jason and brother Travis launched a podcast. After which Travis began relationship essentially the most well-known lady on the earth. When Jason retired in March, he discovered himself within the uncommon place of being significantly extra in-demand as a former participant than he was as a cornerstone lineman for an NFC East franchise. It has all been an adjustment, albeit a contented one. “We’re simply going with it at some point at a time,” he says.
One among Kelce’s new hats shall be as a Monday Night time Countdown panelist for ESPN. One other is as a pitchman for Kingsford, the maker of grilling charcoal. In 2017, the corporate constructed one of many NFL ecosystem’s most viral advertising and marketing campaigns round former New England Patriots defensive deal with Vince Wilfork carrying a set of grilling overalls (and nothing else). Now the corporate has crossed the road of scrimmage. Kelce, amongst his different gigs, will assist promote the world on charcoal grilling.
Kelce talked with GQ this month about barbecuing, his memorable journey by way of the Buffalo tailgating scene final January, the state of his physique as he stops taking part in, and the way being himself in 2024 is completely different than it was from, say, 2011 to early 2023. The dialogue is evenly edited for readability and size.
Are you a charcoal griller by commerce? Do you have got ideas on charcoal versus fuel?
Yeah, I am a charcoal griller by desire. I believe I’ve used charcoal essentially the most in my grilling expertise. It is what I realized on. And it is what I favor, partly due to nostalgia. That’s simply what I keep in mind doing with my dad. I keep in mind activating the charcoal, getting them prepared, getting them white and sizzling. And I believe that it is one thing that brings you again to the primary time you probably did it. Like there is a course of with charcoal that fuel would not actually have, proper? And for me, there’s extra taste in it. There’s extra of that course of that actually makes you’re feeling prefer it’s an lively prepare dinner relatively than identical to throwing one thing on a grill that’s extra passive.
Will you utilize a charcoal grill as a smoker?
One factor I am making an attempt to get into, I do know lots of people use the offset people who smoke with charcoal, after which put wooden blocks on it to get the smoke with it. I’ve not personally finished that. However I get an offset smoker, and I am wanting ahead to making an attempt that out. As a result of I’ve simply bought the direct warmth on the grill, and I do know that with a view to get the meat actually tender, with the ability to have the offset and have that smoke and warmth creep into it, you possibly can prepare dinner it longer and render extra of the fats and make it extra tender. So I am wanting ahead to giving {that a} go.
There are people who find themselves very militant about their charcoal-versus-gas take. I imply, my dad and mom use fuel. I do not maintain it towards them. It’s sooner they usually’ve bought to maneuver their day alongside. However some would say that’s not actual grilling and that fuel grillers are lesser preparers of meals. The place do you stand on this matter?
Pay attention, I believe all people ought to grill nonetheless they need to grill. If I am being sincere, I believe fuel most likely has a spot should you’re making an attempt to go shortly and no matter. However for me, should you’re searching for the most effective taste, should you’re searching for the precise true barbecue ambiance, really feel, and style, you possibly can’t accomplish that with fuel. You want the charcoal to be in there to get the true barbecue nature.
You realize, there is a time and a spot for the whole lot. However definitely my desire and definitely what I consider once I consider tailgating—once I consider an occasion with folks round you, a community-driven factor—I believe that at all times is healthier with the charcoal and the standard barbecue model.
The Payments tailgate that everybody noticed you eventually yr: Was that the primary time you bought to something like that since, what, school?
I imply, I would by no means finished it in school. The one different time has been when the Eagles have been eradicated from video games already, and I have been in Kansas Metropolis for a playoff recreation at Arrowhead. I’ve gotten to expertise a bit of little bit of tailgating on the market. However the Payments one was positively essentially the most distinctive. Possibly the primary time I used to be at Arrowhead, it was simply as distinctive. Clearly, Kansas Metropolis has an enormous barbecue tradition, and there have been tons of individuals on the market barbecuing and tailgating in Kansas Metropolis.
