NFL legend Jason Kelce was officially inducted into the University of Cincinnati’s James P. Kelly Athletics Hall of Fame as part of the 50th Anniversary Class on Oct. 23.
Kelce had an iconic tenure in Cincinnati, earning two Second-Team All-Big East selections and helping lead the Bearcats to back-to-back Big East Conference championships.
In a recent episode of the “New Heights” podcast with his brother Travis Kelce, the 38-year-old shared his thoughts on the latest career milestone.
“It was incredible,” Kelce said of the ceremony held at Fifth Third Arena. “Awesome just seeing a bunch of your former teammates. Also the ceremony.
“And for me to be in the class, obviously, Connor (Barwin) and I played together in Philadelphia for a long time, played in Cincinnati for three years together, to be in the Hall of Fame with Connor is awesome.”
Kelce, who now serves as an ESPN football analyst, also discussed the huge impact of former Cincinnati men’s basketball coach and fellow Hall of Fame inductee Bob Huggins, who made the school’s basketball program one of the best in the country.
“Obviously, Bob Huggins is the big name,” Kelce continued. “He was the reason the Cincinnati Athletics rose to what it was in the late 80s and 90s.
“As a kid in Cleveland, we didn’t know anything about Cincinnati, but we knew about Cincinnati Basketball.”
Finally, the 2018 Super Bowl winner and six-time Pro Bowler soaked in the moment while further tipping his hat to his Hall of Fame classmates.
“Just being around such a group of incredible athletes who loved their time in Cincinnati, helped shape that Athletics Department into what it is today, and to be honored like that by UC is really special.”
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The honor recognizes the career in Cincinnati that preceded Kelce’s legendary 13 seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles.
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