Jason Kelce: The Unexpected Hockey Player

Former Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce has been spotted on the ice at the Flyers Training Center ahead of the team’s playoff series against the Pittsburgh Penguins, reigniting interest in his background as a hockey player from his high school days.

Kelce, who retired from the NFL after a distinguished career with the Eagles, was seen skating in full hockey equipment at the Flyers’ practice facility in Voorhees on Friday, April 17, 2026, just before the opening game of the first-round playoff series against Pittsburgh. The activity was captured and shared by Siobhan Nolan of The Hockey News on social media, showing Kelce actively moving on the ice rather than merely skating slowly along the boards.

This appearance follows a pattern of Kelce engaging with hockey-related events in recent months. In February 2026, he attended the Team USA women’s hockey semifinal game at the Olympics alongside his wife, Kylie, where he and his brother Travis helped raise funds so that Laila Edwards’ family could attend the Games. Edwards, a standout hockey player from their shared hometown of Cleveland Heights, Ohio, later shifted to defense for the U.S. Olympic team.

Long before his football stardom, Kelce played ice hockey throughout his four years at Cleveland Heights High School. As a senior, he recorded 36 points in 27 games, including 21 goals and 15 assists. The year prior, he posted 22 goals in 22 games, demonstrating notable offensive ability during his high school hockey career. He even served as an alternate captain during his final year with the school’s team.

The Flyers, who earned a playoff berth through a strong second-half surge, opened their best-of-seven series against the Penguins on Saturday night in Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh entered the matchup led by veteran stars Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, while Philadelphia relied on contributors such as Travis Konecny, Trevor Zegras, Christian Dvorak, and Matvei Michkov. The series was televised by ESPN.

Although Kelce is not participating in team drills or practices with the Flyers, his presence on the ice has drawn attention from local media and fans. Broad Street Hockey noted that while he may not be suiting up for game action, his involvement signals a continued connection to the sport he played growing up. The former Eagles lineman, now 38 years old, has remained active in Philadelphia sports circles since retiring from the NFL.

Kelce’s recent hockey-related activities come after a lighter moment earlier in the fall, when a TikTok video surfaced showing him in a humorous hockey-related mishap from October 2025. Despite the levity of that clip, his documented high school performance confirms a legitimate background in the sport, setting him apart from many athletes who merely try skating casually later in life.

As the Flyers-Penguins series progresses, Kelce’s visible engagement with the team—whether through ceremonial appearances or personal workouts—adds a unique layer to the intracity rivalry. His ability to transition from football stardom to public hockey engagement underscores a broader connection between Philadelphia’s sports communities, even as he maintains ties to his athletic roots in Cleveland Heights.