The center had the honor of presenting an award to Lane Johnson.
Jason Kelce is not one to shy away from emotions, whether he’s on or off the field. This week, he had the honor of presenting his Eagles teammate with a special award, and it made for an emotional moment.
Every year, each NFL team nominates one player for the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award. The prestigious recognition, established in 1970, highlights players who have made a significant impact on their communities. According to the NFL, each nominee will receive a $55,000 donation awarded to the non-profit of their choice, and one winner will receive a $250,000 donation.
This year, the Eagles chose offensive tackle Lane Johnson as their nominee. Lane, who has been with the team since he was drafted in 2013, has struggled with anxiety and depression in his personal life, and he has become a mental health advocate for the youth of Philadelphia.
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Jason had the honor of surprising his longtime teammate with the news of his nomination during a team meeting. He addressed Lane and the offensive linemen with an emotional speech, saying, “This award, a lot of times, goes to somebody who gives a bunch of money to a charity and does a bunch out in the open, and that ain’t ****ing you, and we all know that. But that doesn’t take away what you mean to the guys in this room… Everybody finally sees who you are. When I think of a man, I think of somebody who weathers the up and downs in life….you’re doing better than I’ve ever seen, and it’s so ****ing awesome to see. I know it ain’t all been perfect all the time, but there ain’t anyone in the NFL who represents that better than you. That’s important for you to hear.”
The Eagles shared the video on Instagram, and fans left comments like, “Kelce pulling on my heartstrings 😭😭,” “Kelce is so emotional and not afraid to show it and I love it💚 Well deserved Lane👏🦅,” and “Why are my eyes sweating?😭😭.”
Lane Johnson chimed in with “Love y’all.”
The NFL will announce the Walter Payton Man of the Year winner during NFL Honors on February 8.
