Jason Kelce retired from the NFL after the 2023 season and is enjoying his life away from football. He is still tapped into the game due to his weekly podcast with Travis Kelce and his commitment to ESPN for covering Monday Night Football games.
The Kansas City Chiefs won another close game in Week 13, this time 19-17 against the Las Vegas Raiders. Jackson Powers-Johnson, the Raiders’ rookie center, made a costly mistake that lost his team the game, sparking a reaction from Kelce.
Jason Kelce Reacts to Jackson Powers-Johnson’s Mistake vs. Chiefs
Powers-Johnson snapped the ball quickly while his quarterback, Aidan O’Connell, was not prepared, resulting in a fumble. The Chiefs got the ball back and ran down the clock to improve to 11-1 on the season.
Kelce, who is arguably the best center in the NFL’s history, was likely to comment on the rookie’s mistake as the Eagles legend shared the same position as Powers-Johnson.
What a WILD ending on Black Friday 👀 pic.twitter.com/JtYRVva6Zy
— NFL (@NFL) November 29, 2024
“It’s times like this I don’t miss playing center,” wrote Kelce via X (formerly known as Twitter). The Eagles legend knows that such a situation can be very hard for the center, especially as a rookie. Hopefully, Powers-Johnson will learn from it and not allow this moment to get into his head.
The Raiders are 2-10 through 13 weeks, and this season is a learning curve for all their young players. Powers-Johnson was the 44th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, and the team views him as a big part of their future.
Kelce’s response was hilarious, but he knew the impact that type of play can have on a player. Fortunately for Kelce, he is retired and doesn’t have to deal with such situations. The 37-year-old played 13 seasons in the league, won a Super Bowl, made the Pro Bowl seven times, and was an All-Pro six times.
He is expected to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2029 when eligible, and we’ll continue to hear his views on football and other topics via his social media accounts and the “New Heights” podcast.
Aidan O’Connell Provides Clarity on Confusion on Last Play
O’Connell and the Raiders played well enough to win against the Chiefs. However, the football gods once again favored Kansas City, and the defending champions won another close game.
The Raiders quarterback, in his first game back from a thumb injury, threw for 340 yards and two touchdowns, with a passer rating of 116.4. Rookie tight end Brock Bowers had another monster game, as he finished with 140 yards and a touchdown on 10 receptions.
However, the main thing to come out of this game will be the Raiders’ botched snap at the end of the game. Per Raiders’ insider Vic Tafur, O’Connell was asked about the play, and he took the blame for it, saying, “He clapped too early, and that’s a clear sign to hike the ball.”
Pierce: "I am proud of my team … We came up short again. The record is what it is, but this team is prideful. … I don't know what to keep saying after losses."
— Vic Tafur (@VicTafur) November 29, 2024
Although the Raiders lost the game, this result might have helped head coach Antonio Pierce keep his job for a few more weeks. Before the game against the Chiefs, he called Las Vegas “the worst team in the league,” and had they lost by a bigger margin, Pierce could have gotten fired this week.