The Philadelphia Flyers need all the help they can get to make a significant and deep run in the playoffs this season, and it looks like one of the city’s living legends is getting involved.
Jason Kelce is synonymous with Philadelphia sports as the former Eagles center has remained extremely active in the city and now with the Flyers being the hottest team in the city — no offense to the Sixers’ current playoff run and how the Phillies are doing to start their season — he’s getting right back on board. There are plenty of ways to do it, and we’re sure Kelce will be popping up throughout the Flyers’ first-round series against the archrival Pittsburgh Penguins, but before the puck drops for Game 1 on Saturday night, he’s getting the hockey going in his blood again.
The 38-year-old Philadelphia icon was seen skating around in full hockey equipment after team practice at Flyers Training Center in Voorhees on Friday.
So Jason Kelce is on the ice at Flyers Training Center right now… pic.twitter.com/m0kXI8hRgP
— Siobhan Nolan (@SGNolan) April 17, 2026
Jason Kelce seen at Flyers practice before Game 1 against the Penguins
Now, it’s not like he’s lacing up his skates and going through drills with the Flyers (maybe he’s saving that for later, or after the series win over the Penguins), but he is certainly out there and not taking it easy. Thanks to The Hockey News’ Siobhan Nolan, we can see clearly that Kelce isn’t just inching his way around the ice, shuffling along the boards and not knowing how to stop like some novice players.
Famously, Kelce is no stranger to the sport of hockey.
The eventual Pro Football Hall-of-Famer played during all four years of his high school years at Cleveland Heights High and was even the alternate captain during his final year. Thanks to our friends over at Elite Prospects, who keep track of even the most obscure of leagues and players, we can see that Kelce, who played at forward, certainly wasn’t a scrub on the ice.
In his junior and senior years, he scored over 20 goals and averaged 1.34 points per game, peaking in his final year with 36 points in 27 games. Obviously, at that time he then went on to play college football for the Cincinnati Bearcats and was drafted in the sixth round by the Eagles at the 2011 NFL Draft before playing a total of 193 games and being named a seven-time Pro Bowler and of course, Super Bowl champion. But, Kelce certainly has hockey roots.
We’ve already wondered if Kelce could potentially solve the Flyers’ center problem, since the team clearly needs someone with a whole lot of size and the ability to get physical down low. Maybe this time around, it’s not impossible. Sign him up to a contract and keep him around? Just imagine how far he would send Ben Kindel if he actually tried to bulldoze his way on the forecheck. Sam Girard? You’re dust. Kris Letang? You better retire right now buddy or you’re going to be in some pain. Ryan Graves? Yeah, there’s going to be some graves, alright.
At the very least, let’s hope that Kelce can bring some of that championship mentality to the Flyers.
Puck drop for Game 1 of the first round against the Penguins is at 8:00 p.m. on Saturday night. It’s going to be a wild ride.
