While the cliché may ask “What’s in a name,” numbers are pretty important to professional athletes. It’s more than a simple on-field identifier; it’s a part of your professional identity and brand.
Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce, for example, will be forever tied to the number 62. It might not be as iconic as his brother’s No. 87—players who score touchdowns will always make the headlines—but no one in Philly will overlook their star center.
But have you ever wondered what’s behind Kelce’s number? Is it a good-luck charm? A way to honor a hero?
Not exactly. Sixty-two started out as a simple twist of fate, but that’s what has made it so special.
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Jason Kelce Wears 62 Because It’s His
Kelce has worn No. 62 since he entered the professional ranks. Before that, though, he wore several numbers and was partial to the unlucky No. 13.
So, what changed?
“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,” he told the Eagles’ website in 2018. “Growing up I kind of liked the No. 13 for the sports that I played.”
And while he could have changed over the years, Kelce isn’t budging. Instead, he’s relying on some old words of wisdom and making the assigned number his own.
“But I had a football coach in middle school that once said to me, ‘The player makes the number, not the other way around,'” he continued. “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.”
Kelce’s Eagles Legacy Looms Large
And he certainly has built that legacy.
During his time in the City of Brotherly Love, Kelce has been ever-present on the line. He has started more than 180 games, earning five First-Team All-Pro nods and six Pro Bowl appearances. He hass also earned a Super Bowl ring and helped the Eagles reach the Big Game in February 2023, although he found himself on the wrong end of the Kelce vs. Kelce matchup.
His impact transcends stats, though. Quarterback Jalen Hurts has spoken about the center’s impact on him, and the Eagles even ran a story about Kelce titled The Legacy of a Champion.
“There isn’t a lot about Jason Kelce that hasn’t already been said. He is one of the great Eagles players – at any position, is the consummate team leader, should someday be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and is, without question, one of the most beloved Philadelphia athletes ever,” insider Dave Spadaro began. And the praise just kept coming.
Center Cam Jurgens said that there was a reason he followed Kelce around. Hurts (again) acknowledged the work that the former Cincinnati Bearcat puts into getting everyone on the same page, before calling him “a special person and a special player.”
All of that combines to create quite the legacy around No. 62.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.