LONDON — It takes a lot to bring a Super Bowl champion to tears. Years of grueling NFL seasons, high-stakes games, and physical punishment usually forge an exterior of steel. But for Jason Kelce, all it took was one night at Wembley Stadium, a stack of friendship bracelets, and the undeniable magic of Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour to bring his emotions to the surface.

In a recent candid conversation with his brother Travis, the retired Philadelphia Eagles center opened up about his first-ever experience attending a Taylor Swift concert. The event, held at London’s iconic Wembley Stadium, wasn’t just a musical performance for Jason; it was a journey that oscillated between profound emotional vulnerability and his trademark hilarious antics.

The “Swiftie” Transformation

Accompanied by his wife, Kylie (affectionately referred to as “Princess Kyana” in a playful moment), Jason joined Travis to witness the global pop phenomenon in action. The scale of the event immediately struck a chord with the former athlete. Having played at Wembley himself in 2015 in front of 80,000 fans, Jason noted a distinct difference in the atmosphere.

“They get a lot louder for Taylor,” Jason admitted, noting the deafening support not just for the singer, but for everyone involved. “It was insanely impressive.”

But it wasn’t the volume of the crowd that left the most lasting mark on Jason; it was the sheer endurance required to command it. Watching Swift perform for nearly four hours and deliver a setlist of roughly 45 songs left the professional athlete in awe of her physical conditioning.

“If I did what she did for one song, I would have to change my clothes,” Jason joked, emphasizing the physical toll of such a performance. “I’m in the tent like, ‘Gosh, I need a break.’ I’m tired of drinking these beers, and Taylor is still singing.”

The Moment the Tears Fell

While the athleticism impressed him, the emotional weight of the concert caught him off guard. The highlight of the night—and the moment that dismantled Jason’s tough-guy persona—was the beloved “22 Hat” tradition, where Swift gifts her fedora to a young fan in the crowd.

“I’ve never cried at a f***ing concert,” Jason confessed, his voice thick with emotion even while recounting the story. “I was literally tearing up watching this little girl… I’m about to tear up right now. It was just so special.”

For a man who has spent his career in the trenches of the gridiron, the raw, wholesome joy of that interaction was overwhelming. It was a testament to the community and connection that the Eras Tour fosters—a sentiment Jason compared to the intense fandom of Bruce Springsteen followers, noting the crowd’s ability to sing every word and anticipate every beat.

Intimacy in a Crowd of 90,000

Despite the massive scale of the venue, Jason found his favorite part of the show to be the acoustic set. In a stadium packed with 90,000 screaming fans, he felt an unexpected sense of intimacy.

“It feels like you’re in a bar just listening to somebody play on a piano,” he described. “To be good in front of 90,000 people with just that [a guitar or piano], I think you have to be amazing. There’s nothing else to hide it.”

Travis agreed, adding that the acoustic segment “puts everybody in a room with Taylor,” shrinking the massive stadium down to a shared, personal experience.

“Pre-Opposable Thumbs” Evolution

Of course, it wouldn’t be a Jason Kelce story without a touch of chaotic humor. While he was deeply moved by the music, he was also deeply committed to the “Swiftie” culture—specifically, the friendship bracelets. His arms were so stacked with the colorful beaded bands that he claimed they were cutting off his circulation.

This accessory overload led to a practical problem: how to carry his beer. Jason’s solution was as primal as it was effective—he carried the cup with his teeth.

“That is a Kelce move for sure,” Travis laughed.

Jason defended his technique with a unique evolutionary theory. “People don’t know this, that’s how most animals actually utilize carrying things—they carry them in their mouth,” he explained with a straight face. “So I’m just reverting back to my pre-opposable thumbs evolution characteristic.”

A Night to Remember

From the tear-jerking “22” hat handover to the “Jeans for Jason” fashion choices, the night was a perfect microcosm of the Kelce brothers’ dynamic: supportive, emotionally open, and unfailingly fun. Jason may have arrived as a supportive brother and husband, but he left as a true believer in the power of the Eras Tour—and perhaps, a slightly more evolved animal with a knack for carrying beers.

“It was an awesome experience,” Jason concluded. “The Swifties make it very memorable.”