Jason Kelce Gives Trainer Touching Gesture At Retirement Conference After Cancer Kept Him From His Final Game

Joseph O'Pella was the Philadelphia Eagles' trainer throughout Jason Kelce's entire career, and the two formed a special bond.

Being the center, Kelce was constantly taped up, notably his fingers and ankles, in what became an iconic look in Philadelphia.

O'Pella has been battling cancer, and treatments have kept him away from the team, but Kelce wanted to make him feel right at home.

Jason Kelce pulled off a jacket swap with Doug Pederson. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)

One of those days O'Pella was "too sick to come in" was the wild card round against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. It turned out to be Kelce's final game, as the Birds lost 32-9 to the Bucs and were eliminated from the playoffs.

That meant O'Pella, who "taped this guy's ankles and thumbs every day for 13 years," was not able to treat Kelce like he had a bunch of other game days.

"When he told me he would be retiring and I expressed my regret of not being the last person to ever tape him," O'Pella wrote.

However, Kelce would not let that be the case.

"He offered to have me tape him for his retirement press conference," O'Pella wrote. 

"That's who he is. And I hope these stories can add to an already unbelievable legacy."

Jason Kelce of the Philadelphia Eagles lines up against the Kansas City Chiefs. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

He played in 193 games in his NFL career, the second most in team history. He made 156 consecutive starts – a franchise record. In his 13 NFL seasons, he was a seven-time Pro Bowler and six-time All-Pro selection, winning Super Bowl LII.