Jason Kelce, the 36-year-old father of three daughters, announced his retirement from the National Football League on March 4.
Jason, who played his entire 13-year career as a center for the Philadelphia Eagles, is the older brother of Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce.
The elder Kelce has had an extraordinary career in the NFL. He is a champion of Super Bowl LII, a six-time member of the All-Pro Team, and a seven-time player in the Pro-Bowl.
But if you ask Jason Kelce, his greatest accomplishment in life is not his impressive football career. It’s his job as a father to three young daughters.
In his retirement speech on Monday, an emotional Jason Kelce discussed the importance of present fathers who are involved in their children’s lives.
“[I’ve been] given three beautiful girls, and a life that increasingly brings me more fulfillment off the field, than it does on,” Kelce shared, adding,
I am a product of my upbringing. I think one of the best things a person can be in this world is a father. A father who is present, loving, and devoted, just may be the greatest gift a child could ask for in our society.
You can watch the clip below:
Jason Kelce talking about the importance of fathers in his retirement speech: “I think one of the best things a person can be in this world is a father. A father who is present, devoted, and loving is the greatest gift a child could ask for in our society.” pic.twitter.com/6covemvotz
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) March 4, 2024
The clip of Kelce discussing the importance of fatherhood has been seen and heard far and wide – it’s garnered over 8 million views on X alone.
Brad Wilcox, Professor of Sociology at the University of Virginia and a fellow at the Institute for Family Studies, highlighted Kelce’s remarks as a perfect example of how married fatherhood makes men happier, and how involved fathers greatly benefit their children. He posted on X:
Kelce says
✔️being a father brings more “fulfillment” than football
✔️a loving, present father is “greatest gift a child could ask for”
Kelce is right.
Look at the data on men’s happiness & kids’ well-being👇🏽 https://t.co/lxZe6LJYgA pic.twitter.com/cEqWZgIZuU
— Brad Wilcox (@BradWilcoxIFS) March 5, 2024
Wilcox pointed to the “gold-standard in social science research, the 50-plus-year-old General Social Survey,” (GSS) which found that married mothers and fathers reporting the highest levels of being “very happy.” According to the GSS, 35% of married dads are “very happy” compared to just 14% of unmarried and childless men.
Additionally, Wilcox pointed to the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997 which compares the outcomes of young adults by family structure for men and women.
For men who grew up in intact families, 38% graduated from college while just 9% were incarcerated.
The outcomes were significantly worse for men who grew up in blended families (19% graduated from college while 13% were incarcerated), were raised by a single mother (15% graduated from college while 19% were incarcerated) or were raised by a single father (14% graduated from college while 27% were incarcerated).
Some modern feminists dismiss fathers as “not needed,” asserting that “there is nothing objectively essential about their contribution.”
But nothing could be further from the truth. Both the research, and the stories of fathers like Jason Kelce, bear that out.
It was former Senator Jim DeMint who said, “One of the greatest titles in the world is parent, and one of the biggest blessings in the world is to be one.”
Congratulations to Jason Kelce on his well-deserved retirement. Though his football career may be over, his most important job in life – being a father – continues.
To speak with a family help specialist or request resources, please call us at 1-800-A-FAMILY (232-6459).
Nancy Pearcey, a Professor of Apologetics and Scholar-in-Residence at Houston Christian University, has written an important book called The Toxic War on Masculinity: How Christianity Reconciles the Sexes. You can learn how to challenge politically correct ideology and bring an evidence-based message of healing into the public square.
Related articles and resources:
Counseling Consultation & Referrals
The Toxic War on Masculinity: How Christianity Reconciles the Sexes
Fatherhood: How to be the Dad Your Family Needs
The Significance of a Father’s Influence
Photo from Getty.
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