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Every year around this time, it seems that we learn of some bizarre, almost too strange to be true human interest story involving the Super Bowl match-up. In the past, I can remember several of the bigger ones, like the "teacher versus the student" game between head coach Bill Walsh of the San Francisco 49ers, and his former assistant Sam Wyche, who almost led his Cincinnati Bengals to an upset win in Super Bowl XXIII. Or former coaches or players from a new team playing their old team on the biggest stage, such as when Dan Reeves faced his old Broncos team in Super Bowl XXXIII and facing his old quarterback, John Elway, or Tampa Bay head coach Jon Gruden went up against his former team, the Oakland Raiders, in Super Bowl XXXVII. In Super Bowl XLI, there was the first meeting between two black head coaches, when Tony Dungy's Indianapolis Colts ultimately defeated Lovie Smith's Chicago Bears. There were the two brothers who each were the head coach of opposing teams in Super Bowl XLVII, when the Baltimore Ravens beat the San Francisco 49ers. In Super Bowl LII, the Eagles had two former Patriots players, LeGarrette Blount and Chris Long, now facing their old team.
Well this year, there are several. This will be the first meeting between two starting black quarterbacks. Also, head coach Andy Reid will be facing his old team, the Philadelphia Eagles.
But perhaps the most bizarre story is a family one. There are two brothers on each of the teams, which makes this the first Super Bowl where two brothers will square off against one another. Well, to be sure, they both play on offense, so they will not be on the same field, playing against one another, specifically. Yet, they will both suit up and be on opposing teams, playing against the other's team and each trying to deny the other a Super Bowl ring, while earning one for themselves, of course.
The two brothers are star tight end Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs, and Jason Kelce, the center for the Philadelphia Eagles. This also means that there are parents, Ed and Donna Kelce, who will be the first to have two sons playing against one another in the big game. Both brothers already have Super Bowl championship rings, with Jason Kelce having earned on the last time the Eagles were here, in Super Bowl LII, and Travis Kelce having earned one when the Chiefs beat the 49ers in Super Bowl LIV. To be sure, brothers and other family members have won Super Bowl rings before. Both Manning brothers won Super Bowl rings, for example. And one father and son combination, Steve and Zak DeOssie, actually won Super Bowl rings with the same franchise, the New York Giants, roughly two decades apart from one another. But never before have such close family members actually faced each other in the big game before.
The parents obviously have some divided loyalties, and will not know exactly who to root for on Super Bowl Sunday.
"One of my kids is going to get another ring and one is going to go home broken hearted that he didn't beat his brother," said their father, Ed Kelce. He has no idea who will come out on top. He said he won't wear Eagles or Chiefs gear in Arizona, but rather some throwbacks to University of Cincinnati.
"I have two jerseys I'll take with me to wear at different times depending on what the event is," said Ed Kelce. "One is from the University of Cincinnati that has Travis' number on the front and Jason's on the back."
Their mother feels that this is both a blessing and a curse of sorts:
"It's your hopes and dreams coming true, but it's your worst fears," Donna told PJ Ziegler of FOX 8. "Somebody is going to go home a loser, and neither one of them lose very well."
One way or another, it should be interesting.
Donna Kelce becomes first mother to have two sons play against each other in the Super Bowl by Ben Morse, CNN, CNNWire Monday, January 30, 2023:
Donna Kelce will officially become the first mother to have two sons play against each other in the Super Bowl.
https://6abc.com/super-bowl-57-philadelphia-eagles-jason-travis-kelce-brothers-kansas-city-chiefs/12749365/
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