Jason Kelce Is So Loved in Philly He 'Could Run for Mayor and Win,' Says Source (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Jason Kelce.Photo:Tim Nwachukwu/Getty

Tim Nwachukwu/Getty

Philadelphia Eagles team captainJason Kelceis ruminating oncalling it a career after 13 seasons, tearing upas he discussed the possibility on hisNew HeightspodcastWednesday morning, but the seven-time Pro Bowler, Super Bowl LII winner and surefire Hall of Famer — not to mention a dad of three and cattle farm owner — has plenty to keep him occupied in retirement.

Including, if he wanted to, a career in politics, given how beloved he is in his hometown.

“Jason could run for mayor of Philadelphia and win,” a source close to the Kelce familytells PEOPLE in this week’s cover story. “[The city is] obsessed with him. Aside from his being a superstar athlete, Philly embraces him because of who he is — just a good, lovable family dude.”

Kelce, 36, memorably contemplated retirement after the 2022 season, as chronicled in the Amazon Prime Video’sKelce, the service’s most-watched documentary ever. Ultimately, he announced in a Tweet to the collective elation of The City of Brotherly Love: “Thank you to all my supporters and detractors for fueling me, I ain’t f—-in’ done yet!”

The prospect of Kelce running for public office has been joked about before. Last March, after he spoke out on hisNew Heightspodcast, which he co-hosts with his brother Travis, 34, about the annoyances of spam calls and texts and the need for consequences, listeners attempted to push the idea forward.

“If we weren’t all rooting for another Kelce Bowl, this could be the jump off for the Kelce Kampaign ‘24,” wrote one. Said another: “I would allow Kelce to retire only if he ran for mayor.”

But if he did decide to enter politics, Kelce would have a few things going for him, including a close-knit, supportive family. He shares daughters Wyatt, 4, Elliotte, 2, and Bennett, 11 months, withKylie McDevitt,31, his wife of five years.

Kylie Kelce/Instagram

“Kylie is very sweet and level-headed,” says another source. “Everybody loves her, and they’re great partners. Jason has a crazy schedule, but they balance it really well. They make it all work.”

He would also have support of his mother Donna, 71,a national treasure in her own rightand a constant presence in his life.

Lisa Lake/Getty

“The most important thing is to value your children, and to [do that], you have to spend time with them,” she recently told PEOPLE. “It may seem simple, but if they know you took the time to come and watch whatever endeavor — sports, art, music — you show them you value them as human beings. That’s all you need to do as a parent.”

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Of course, Kelce has enough to focus on between his many endorsements, a working Missouri cattle farm, the podcast, which is currently No. 8 on the Spotify charts, his(Be)Philly nonprofit foundationandUnderdog Apparel,his clothing line that benefits young people in Philadelphia.

Still, if you’re hoping for someone to unite the left and right, who better than an All-Pro center?

For more on Jason and Travis Kelce, pick up the latest issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands Friday, or subscribehere.

source: people.com