Jason Kelce is a leader on and off the field and on Thursday, the Eagles star center was one of 32 NFL nominees for the Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award.
The award is presented each year to an NFL player who best demonstrates the qualities of on-field sportsmanship, including fair play, respect for the game and opponents, and integrity in competition.
“I got so much respect for him as a football player on and off the football field. He’s somebody that does things right all the time and his game may not be perfect each week, but this guy, he practices, and plays hurt. He gives of himself for his teammates. He’s a great leader, not only in the offensive line room but I think on this football team. It’s one of the reasons I make him a captain every year and the team respects that and the team looks at that,” Head Coach Doug Pederson recently said about Kelce.
Monday night’s game against the Seahawks was Kelce’s 100th consecutive start, the longest streak by an Eagles center since the 1970 merger (previously 95 games by Guy Morriss from 1977-83).
It’s the longest active streak among all NFL centers.
The winner will be announced as part of the NFL Honors in February. He will receive a $25,000 donation from the NFL Foundation to a charity of his choice.
