You can't watch television these days without seeing the obnoxiously burly bearded and bushy eyebrowed Jason Kelce.
He's taking over soup and cereal commercials, and is now part of ESPN's Monday Night Countdown among other appearances. Thanks to his little brother who plays Tight End for the Kansas City Chiefs, his profile has elevated astronomically, because why? Well, as even cave dwellers know, little bro is dating the biggest start on the planet, Taylor Swift. Sure he was a stalwart Center for the Philadelphia Eagles up until his retirement last year, but let's not pretend like that's known outside of the football world. Plenty casual football fans not of the Eagles wouldn't know that.
He and his little brother also host the New Heights podcast, which earlier this year struck gold in a three-year $100 million deal with the devil I mean Amazon. Again, they can thank T-Swift nation for their over-the-top non-football related success.
As if a successful football career, television career, podcast career, and attachment to the world's biggest pop star wasn't enough, the elder Kelce and some of his former offensive line colleagues including Jordan Mailata and Lane Johnson also put out Christmas music under the name The Philly Specials. And on November 22nd, 2024, the Jalen Hurts protectors put out their latest holiday song collection in A Philly Special Christmas Party.
What sounds silly at first and perhaps like it could be a modern day version of the Super Bowl Shuffle from the Chicago Bears in 1985, it actually doesn't make the ears bleed. In fact -- and unsurprisingly -- they wrangled some big names to join them on the album, including none other than -- you guessed it -- Stevie Nicks. Yep. I would love to know how this bunch came together. Nicks is featured on the sixth track, "Maybe This Christmas."
Other stars include Philly's own Boyz II Men (ft. on "It's Christmas Time (In Cleveland Heights") and Mt. Joy (ft. on "Santa Drives an Astrovan"), which makes geographical sense as opposed to Nicks, which is delightfully random.
Naturally, there is a charitable element to this release -- Operation Snowball -- which "aims to make every student in The School District of Philadelphia feel seen and celebrated this holiday season." The initiative seeks to give a gift to every single Philly public school student. All proceeds from the release on vinyl and CD will support the initiative.
This is not the first album from the trio of offensive linemen, as their 2023 release, A Philly Special Christmas Special, raised over $3 million. And before that, 2022's A Philly Special Christmas, equated to donations of over $1 million to local charities.
As sick of The Kelce Brothers as I am, *some* songs on the album do slap, and of course it serves a greater purpose. Regardless of any of this, I only have one last thing to say: Go Bills.
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