The Pittsburgh Steelers are one of the most storied organizations in professional sports. Their history is filled with legendary players, fascinating stories, and six Super Bowl trophies. The Steelers' dominance in the 1970s made it common for football fans to support them regardless of where they were from.
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Jason Kelce celebrates after the Philadelphia Eagles' victory over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LII at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.
Under Head Coach Chuck Noll, quarterback Terry Bradshaw and the legendary Steel Curtain defense, the Steelers won four Super Bowls in the '70s, earning the title "Team of the '70s." While it was common for many to become Steelers fans even if they weren’t from Pittsburgh, it would be unusual for someone from Cleveland Heights, Ohio, like recently retired center Jason Kelce, to support them.
Kelce, a self-proclaimed makeshift Steelers fan, joined the Nevada Sports Net show to discuss his retirement, Taylor Swift, and golfing. During the show, he revealed how he became a Steelers fan despite growing up in Cleveland Browns territory.
"Jerome Bettis, he was my favorite player growing up,” Kelce said. "That's who I wanted to be, I wanted to be a running back and just loved watching him play. I was born in Cleveland, and I even became a makeshift Steelers fan when the Browns left to become the Ravens. It's like sacrilegious in Cleveland, everybody was like, 'How are you a Steelers fan now?' I'm like, 'We don't have a team anymore, this is my favorite player.'"
When the Browns, Kelce's favorite team at the time, became the Baltimore Ravens in 1996, Kelce found himself without a team to root for. His favorite player, running back Jerome Bettis, joined the Steelers that same year. This sparked Kelce's admiration for Bettis, inspiring him to try his luck at the running back position. However, Kelce ultimately chose to play center, a decision that proved to be incredibly successful.
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Steelers' Jerome Bettis running with the football against the Bengals.
The departure of the Browns from Cleveland was a sad moment for many fans. Although the Browns were reactivated in 1999, by then, Kelce had already committed to supporting the Steelers. He often recounted how people in Cleveland were puzzled by his allegiance to the Steelers instead of the Browns. To Kelce, the answer was clear: his city no longer had a team at the time, so he shifted his loyalty.
Despite the opportunity to rejoin the Browns fandom when they returned in 1999, Kelce remained a steadfast Steelers fan. As he grew up, Kelce went on to have an illustrious NFL career. He played 13 seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles, earning six All-Pro selections and seven Pro Bowl nods. He also won a Super Bowl with the Eagles.
Steelers Had Their Own Star Center For The Majority Of Jason Kelce's Career
Kelce's story of being a Steelers fan is fascinating, especially given his prominence as an NFL player. Steelers fans might have wished Kelce played for them in Pittsburgh, but during his career, the Steelers were well-covered at the center position by Maurkice Pouncey. Pouncey, a nine-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro, anchored the Steelers' offensive line from 2010 to 2020.
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Former Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey prepares to snap the ball.
Although Kelce is now a dedicated fan of his former team, the Eagles, it's interesting to reflect on his early admiration for Bettis and his dream of emulating the running back. Steelers fans take a bit of pride in knowing they "stole" Kelce's loyalty from the Browns, adding another layer to the rich history of NFL fandom.
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