Jason Kelce, the Philadelphia Eagles center, is determined to return a Chiefs luchador mask to a Texas teenager who let him borrow it at the Super Bowl. During the Super Bowl LVIII celebrations, Jason famously wore the mask to after-parties in Las Vegas, following his brother Travis Kelce’s victory in the big game. However, the mask actually belongs to Elijah Smith, an eighth-grader from Dallas, who had given it to Jason for a photo opportunity but never got it back amidst the post-game chaos.
Jason Kelce had previously expressed his intention to return the mask to Elijah in a social media post on Friday morning. Since then, he has reached out to the teenager’s parents and plans on speaking to Elijah over the phone during the weekend. Elijah’s mother, Sarah Smith, revealed that Jason came across as thoughtful, kind, and apologetic during their conversation. The Smiths reassured him that there was no hurry to return the mask, especially considering the recent tragedy of the Super Bowl parade shooting in Kansas City.
Elijah, like many sports fans, is quite superstitious and views the mask as a lucky charm. He wants it back for future Chiefs games or perhaps to frame it as a memento. Jason acknowledged the mask’s significance in his social media post, stating, “Your mask indeed brings great fortune, I owe you big time, sorry it was commandeered.”
It’s important to note that the Smith family harbors no resentment towards Jason for wearing the mask at the Super Bowl celebrations. They find all the videos and photos of him in Vegas with the mask to be “epic.” Once the mask is returned, Sarah predicts that her son will proudly wear it to Chiefs games next season, unless he decides to frame it as a cherished keepsake.
Fortunately, this story seems to be heading towards a happy ending. Jason Kelce’s commitment to returning the mask demonstrates his respect for the teenager and his understanding of the sentimental value it holds. The luchador mask will soon be back where it rightfully belongs, and Elijah can continue to support his beloved Chiefs with his lucky charm by his side.
