Eagles Jason Kelce Named PFWA's Good Guy Award Winner
Jason Kelce developed from a sixth-round selection of the Philadelphia Eagles in the 2011 NFL Draft, just another late-round no-name, into one of the most popular athletes in the city and a likely future Hall of Fame center.
How many athletes chug beer with fans, the way Kelce did at the 2023 NFL Draft in Kansas City and has done each of the past two summers when he served as a guest bartender in Sea Isle City, N.J. while raising money for the Eagles Autism Foundation?
The list could go on for days about Kelce and his accomplishments.
On Tuesday, he added one more when the Professional Football Writers of America (PFWA) selected him as its 2023 Good Guy Award winner for his dealings with local and national media during the previous season.
Kelce is the 19th Good Guy Award winner and the second member of the Eagles to win it, joining Chris Long who won it back-to-back years in 2018 and 2019.
Kelce’s teammate, Brandon Graham, was also a finalist for the award as was Las Vegas running back Josh Jacobs, Cincinnati Bengals center Ted Karras, and Washington Commanders receiver Terry McLaurin.
The Good Guy Award is given to an NFL player for his qualities and professional style in helping pro football writers do their jobs. The award has been presented annually by the PFWA since 2005.
At age 35, Kelce will enter his 13th NFL season. He is a five-time PFWA All-NFL and All-NFC selection (2017-19, 2021-22) and a six-time Pro Bowler.
Kelce has started 139 consecutive regular-season games, which is the second-longest active streak in the NFL and second-longest in franchise history behind Jon Runyan (144 from 2000-08).
Per Pro Football Focus, Kelce produced the second-highest blocking grade (82.0) among centers and did not allow a sack or quarterback hit. He also has the second-highest run-blocking grade (89.4) among centers, per PFF.
PFWA Philadelphia chapter president Zach Berman of The Athletic said about Kelce: “To use Jason Kelce's words about being an athlete in Philadelphia: ‘This city really appreciates accountability, appreciates people being very honest, real, emotionally invested, caring.’
“Football reporters appreciate many of those same qualities. Kelce shows them when he deals with the media. Kelce is honest, accessible, and authentic. What he says carries weight, and he's aware of his platform and the value of his words.
"He likes to say that players write their own narratives, and he’s been professional and accommodating in allowing us to write about his narrative.”
Kelce will now look to help lead the Eagles back to the Super Bowl this upcoming season.
Ed Kracz covers the Philadelphia Eagles for SI's EaglesToday.
Please follow him and our Eagles coverage on Twitter at @kracze.
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