Jason Kelce goes on a massive rant over Philadelphia Eagles ‘water boy’ salary
· Yahoo Sports
Jason Kelce has pushed back strongly against claims about Philadelphia Eagles “water boys” salaries, calling out what he says is a completely misleading portrayal of NFL staff roles.
The reaction came after a viral post suggested sideline staff were earning significant money for relatively simple duties.
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That framing is what triggered Kelce’s response, as he stepped in to correct what he sees as a misunderstanding of how NFL teams operate.
Kelce’s explanation shifts the focus from pay to the actual expertise behind those roles.
Photo by Eakin Howard/Getty ImagesJason Kelce shuts down Eagles water boy salary claim
Jason Kelce responded directly to the viral claim, addressing the idea that “water boys” are earning large sums for basic tasks.
The claim suggested sideline staff were making thousands per game, but Kelce made clear that description misses what those roles actually involve.
He wrote, “The guy squirting water into Zach Ertz’s mouth is Joe O’Pella. He’s an athletic trainer that’s been with the team for over 15 years at this point.
“NFL teams don’t really have water boys, athletic trainers are usually the ones responsible for having water on the practice field and during games, but this post is absolutely hilarious.”
The key point is that these individuals are not casual staff. They are trained professionals with long-term roles inside the organisation.
Jason Kelce explains the real role behind Eagles’ sideline staff
Kelce went further by explaining why labeling these staff members as “water boys” is misleading.
He added, “A guy who rehabbed my ACL tear in my second year, has a masters degree from Pitt, and has years of experience keeping Eagles players healthy and on the field being called a ‘waterboy’ is crazy, and I’m already giving him s___ for it, but good lord this post is so wildly misleading.”
“Either way, thought I’d clear the air, that the people with water bottles during games actually serve much bigger roles on NFL Teams,” Kelce concluded.
That clarification changes the narrative. The presence of water bottles on the sideline is just one small part of a much broader medical and performance responsibility.
Kelce’s response highlights how easily NFL roles can be misunderstood when reduced to a single visible task.
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