His number hasn’t changed since he was drafted in 2011.

jason kelce

Mitchell Leff

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In his 13th season with the Philadelphia Eagles, NFL star Jason Kelce has played in a record-breaking 184 games. While the team’s coaches and quarterbacks have changed over the years, one thing has remained the same for the gritty center: Jason’s jersey number. If you’ve watched an Eagles game over the past 12 years and counting, you’ve seen number 62 on the field.

In college at the University of Cincinnati, Jason wore number 60, and photos from his high school days at Cleveland Heights show him wearing number 48. Jason was drafted by the Eagles and ever since his rookie season in 2011, he has worn number 62. What is the significance of that number?

philadelphia, pa circa 2011 in this handout image provided by the nfl, jason kelce of the philadelphia eagles poses for his nfl headshot circa 2011 in philadelphia, pennsylvania photo by nfl via getty images

Jason explained why he wears number 62: “The significance of No. 62 is that when I made it to the NFL this is the number that was given to me and I am honored to wear it. Growing up I kind of liked the No. 13 for the sports that I played. But I had a football coach in middle school that once said to me, ‘The player makes the number, not the other way around.’ Since then, I’ve taken the number that was handed to me. I have an identity with 62 and I’m going to have that forever.

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glendale, arizona february 12 travis kelce 87 of the kansas city chiefs hugs jason kelce 62 of the philadelphia eagles before super bowl lvii at state farm stadium on february 12, 2023 in glendale, arizona photo by ezra shawgetty images
Ezra Shaw

For his part, Jason’s brother, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, has a sentimental reason for wearing number 87: His big brother. The younger Kelce sibling said, “If there is a Kelce legacy, two brothers making it to the NFL, it all started in 1987, because this big guy was born in 1987.” If you’re wondering why Jason didn’t return the gesture and wear 89 for Travis’s birth year, the NFL has jersey number rules, and offensive linemen like Jason can only choose numbers between 50 and 79.