It was already a wonderful event, and we didn’t even know the entire story.
Jason Kelce retired on Monday after 13 seasons in the NFL, delivering a 41-minute articulate speech through tears.
That alone was an incredible story.
But Eagles associate sports trainer Joe O’Pella elaborated on it the next day, explaining why Kelce’s ankles were wrapped for a press conference.
O’Pella has been battling cancer, so he was unable to bandage Kelce’s ankles for his final NFL game. So the Eagles great had O’Pella tape him up for the final time on Monday afternoon.
Kelce’s ankles are wrapped inside his flip-flops as he walks out of the NovaCare Auditorium and into the cafeteria, where a large group of Eagles employees has congregated.
During his 41-minute address, Kelce described the beauty of an NFL locker room, where people from all walks of life work together to achieve a shared objective. That extends beyond players, who form exceptionally deep bonds with other staff members such as O’Pella.
