Jason Kelce took over Sea Isle again. Here are some highlights from his celebrity bartending event.
Kelce and a crew of Eagles, past and present, got behind the bar at the Ocean Drive to raise money for the Eagles Autism Foundation.
Wearing an Eagles green luchador wrestling mask and a crop-topped jersey with a fanny pack wrapped around his waist, retired Eagles center Jason Kelce was ready to tend the bar in Sea Isle City, N.J., on Wednesday afternoon. Kelce was in town for his fourth annual celebrity bartending event to raise money for the Eagles Autism Foundation.
Eagles defensive end Brandon Graham had an early part to play in the festivities, joining NBC Sports Philadelphia’s livestream of the event mere seconds after it went on air. Graham talked all things Kelce and shouted out the Philly faithful.
“They’re showing up in a big way for us right now,” Graham said. “They go everywhere.”
Kelce’s wife, Kylie, was in attendance and also made an early appearance on the livestream, displaying her appreciation for the event.
“We’re just so excited to have everyone out again,” Kylie said. “Just so awesome to see all of the people come together; it’s such an amazing cause. So many people are impacted, so many people have a personal connection, and so to be able to see how people come together to cheer on the Birds and also cheer on the autism community … it feels so good in your heart.”
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Lines of fans formed around the block as early as 4:30 a.m., before Kelce and his former teammates even arrived to begin serving drinks at the Ocean Drive. Attendees piled into the bar while cheer after cheer rang out as they waited for fans to arrive.
“I’m not spelling out Eagles again until I see an Eagle,” one fan joked.
Finally, at 4:15 p.m., the Birds made their grand entrance, filing in one by one with trays of green Jell-O shots and whipped cream, sporting custom “Shore Birds” jerseys.
While Travis Kelce was not in attendance after both brothers spent the weekend in London taking in Taylor Swift shows, there were plenty of big guests on hand. The list included other current Eagles players Landon Dickerson, Jake Elliott, Avonte Maddox, and Dallas Goedert, as well as former Birds Fletcher Cox, Beau Allen, Trent Cole, Tra Thomas, and Todd Herremans. Beloved Eagles chief security officer Dom DiSandro, who added a new title this offseason, also strolled out to a roar of applause. But the biggest applause was for the host.
“I just show up and drink beer and hang out with people, so I got the fun part,” Jason told reporters before the event. “Kylie and the entire Eagles Autism Foundation team, they put a lot of countless hours of time and work and sponsorships and everything in setting today up so that the players can just come here and have fun. It is by far the most unique and fun event that I’ve ever been a part of from a charity standpoint. Every guy that comes, we get a lot of retention, of guys doing it another year because it’s just a good time. Everybody’s down at the Shore. They’re looking for an excuse to have fun, so it’s not too hard. Just give them a reason to have fun and they’re on board.”
Guests who got their own introductions included New York Giants center Jimmy Morrissey, retired NFL players Carl Nassib and Chris Myers, media members Mike Garafolo and Ross Tucker, and, of course, Kylie Kelce. Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie and Donna Kelce, Jason’s mother, were also in attendance but were not officially introduced.
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Jason had the final introduction and emerged carrying a tray of green Jell-O shots, spraying them with whipped cream while screaming at the top of his lungs. He handed the drinks out and signed autographs for rabid fans before moving behind the bar, where he settled in and eventually led the charge in a rendition of “Fly, Eagles Fly.”
Fans quickly fought to get to the outdoor bar to meet their favorite Eagles. Those who could push farther to the front took photos and signed merchandise with players like Dickerson and Graham and even Big Dom.
Other Eagles set up shop inside at the indoor bars to spread out the crowd. For those who could plow through and make it inside, the atmosphere was much calmer (and air-conditioned).
Goedert, making his second straight appearance at the event, noted his efforts at a more pragmatic approach to partying than he displayed in 2023.
“Last year … I was out for at least a full day, maybe half of the next,” Goedert said. “I’m hoping to pace myself a little bit better, you know, it’s my second year here. I’m going to have a great performance but I’m here for the long haul, not the quick sprint like last year.”
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He also took a step back to appreciate the larger reason for his presence on Wednesday.
“First of all, it starts with Jason,” Goedert said. “He’s an unbelievable guy, he’s an unbelievable teammate that I’ve been fortunate to play with. And then second of all, we’re supporting a great cause that’s important to our owner, important to so many people here. … So it’s just a great way to give back and spend a lot of time with people that you don’t get one-on-one time with.”
On Thursday, Kelce will host the second annual $50,000 New Heights Beer Bowl at the Sea Isle City Yacht Club, which will again raise money for charity.
You can watch a replay of the stream below …