Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce has a message for Chiefs fans in the Philadelphia area: Don’t dress the Rocky Balboa statue in a Chiefs jersey.
The statue bearing the likeness of actor Sylvester Stallone for his role in the original movie «Rocky» has worn jerseys from various teams opposing the Philadelphia Eagles. And it hasn’t worked for those Eagles opponents.
Someone slipped a Minnesota Vikings jersey into the statue before the 2018 NFC championship game that resulted in a 38-7 thrashing of Philly en route to the Super Bowl title.
For this year’s playoffs, a New York Giants jersey and a San Francisco 49ers jersey were found at the statue before games. The Eagles proceeded to beat the Giants, 38-7, in the divisional round and the 49ers, 31-7, in the NFC championship.
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Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs before the AFC Championship game against the Cincinnati Bengals at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on January 29, 2023 in Kansas City, Missouri.
(Michael Owens/Getty Images)
So ahead of Super Bowl LVII between the Chiefs and Eagles, Kelce had a message for fans to consider a Chiefs jersey for the statue.
«Bosses [fans], don’t touch the f—ing Rocky memorial. Do not do that. Definitely don’t put an 87 on there,» he said on the «New Heights» podcast alongside his brother and Super Bowl opponent Jason Kelce.
The «Battle of the Kelces» has already been a big story this week.
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While they are both proud of each other for reaching this point in the season, those feelings will fade next Sunday.
Jason shared his theory about the Rocky statue.
«I’m convinced there’s a fan in Philly who’s putting these jerseys on the Rocky statue just to get everyone excited,» Jason said. «And it’s working. It’s working tremendously. So keep doing it … It’s happened in every game. The Giants did it, the 49ers did it. There’s probably going to be a Chiefs jersey this week.»
Jason Kelce of the Philadelphia Eagles runs out of the tunnel before the NFC Championship game against the San Francisco 49ers at Lincoln Financial Field on January 29, 2023 in Philadelphia.
(Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)
The Kelces understand how rare it is when two brothers will play in the same Super Bowl, but they prefer to focus on the teams.
«I appreciate they call it the Kelce Bowl, but let’s focus on the Chiefs-Eagles, man,» Travis said.
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However, it’s still a good time for the brothers to figure out what’s really going to happen at State Farm Stadium at the start.
«Did we think it would be both of us? I don’t know. I thought it could happen. But I never fully anticipated it happening until almost last week,» Jason said. «I was like, ‘Man, this could really happen. We could really have a ‘New Heights’ Kelce Bowl, and we could actually be doing this.'»
The Rocky statue at the Philadelphia Museum of Art on September 21, 2013, in Philadelphia.
(Gilbert Carrasquillo/FilmMagic)
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«Which is wild and kind of surreal,» the Kansas City tight end responded. «I feel like I’ve been asked this question for my entire career… All my time, I think, that’s been the goal is to face my brother in the Super Bowl. Now that it’s actually happening, it’s like, ‘Man, it’s a little sick'».