In a world of carefully curated social media posts and picture-perfect celebrity families, retired NFL legend Jason Kelce continues to prove he is the undisputed king of relatability. During a recent episode of the smash-hit “New Heights” podcast, Jason dropped a hilariously candid confession about his Thanksgiving habits that has parents everywhere nodding in solidarity—and perhaps shaking their heads in amusement. The former Philadelphia Eagles center, known for his grit on the field, admitted to a surprising lack of fortitude when it comes to the chaos of holiday parenting, revealing that he renders himself “completely useless” while his wife, Kylie Kelce, shoulders the burden of the big day.

The “Useless” Dad Confession

The revelation came as Jason and his brother, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, discussed their upcoming plans for the holiday. With a house full of guests expected, including the “Witworths” and Kylie’s family, the pressure was on. Jason, now a father of four daughters—Wyatt, Elliot, Bennett, and baby Finley—painted a vivid picture of the domestic storm brewing in his household.

“We have four kids, so I’m going to have to be wrestling these kids,” Jason joked initially, prompting Travis to urge him to “get on all fours” and embrace the chaos. However, the conversation quickly took a turn toward radical honesty.

Jason bluntly admitted that when push comes to shove on Turkey Day, he isn’t exactly the MVP of the household. “I’m just a huge inconvenience on Thanksgiving because Kylie and her mom are making everything, literally,” Jason confessed. He described a scenario familiar to many households: the kitchen is a high-stress zone where the matriarchs are orchestrating a culinary masterpiece, and any interference is unwelcome. But rather than pivoting to childcare duties, Jason revealed he has a specific, somewhat unnecessary tradition that gets him out of the line of fire.

“Instead of just like watching the kids, I go next door and fry a turkey with [my dad] Ed,” Jason explained. “So for an hour of the day, I’m just completely useless and making an extra turkey that we don’t need.”

The Great Turkey Escape

The brilliance—and absurdity—of Jason’s strategy lies in the details. He openly acknowledged that the fried turkey he prepares with his father is entirely superfluous. Kylie’s family already prepares a traditional turkey, meaning Jason’s deep-frying adventure is less about culinary necessity and more about self-preservation. It is a calculated retreat from the “zone defense” required to manage four children under the age of seven.

“That’s what I’m talking about,” Travis laughed, recognizing the classic “dad maneuver” for what it was. The image of Jason Kelce, a man who spent his career battling 300-pound defensive linemen, hiding out next door by a fryer to avoid the pandemonium of his own toddlers is a testament to the universal exhaustion of parenthood.

The brothers also touched on the culinary complexities of the day, mentioning the addition of a “Turducken”—a chicken stuffed into a duck stuffed into a turkey. While Jason expressed skepticism about frying such a dense creation due to the stuffing, he remained committed to his role as the outdoor fry-master, ensuring his “useless” hour remains intact.

Pre-Game Fasting and Disney World Regret

Beyond the day-of avoidance strategies, Jason also shared the extreme physical preparation he was undertaking leading up to the feast. In a move that sounds like a holdover from his playing days, Jason revealed he was in the midst of a 48-hour fast.

“I’m going to eat my face off on Thanksgiving,” he declared, explaining that the fast was a necessary reset after a bout of indulgence. Jason recounted a recent trip to Disney World where he “ate a bunch of freaking egg rolls” and Dole Whip, followed by a trip to Wisconsin where he consumed prime rib, wings, and ice cream drinks.

“The weight’s been going up, so yeah, we’re going on a fast,” he told Travis. Describing the process as “unplugging it and plugging it back in,” Jason admitted he was struggling 36 hours in, fueled only by caffeine and the sheer will to survive until he could unleash his appetite on the holiday spread. It’s a cycle of feast and famine that adds another layer of humor to his character—the retired athlete trying to navigate a “normal” diet without the calorie-burning demands of professional football.

The Reality of Parenting Chaos

The podcast episode wasn’t just about food; it was a window into the reality of the Kelce household. The summary of the video highlighted another recent story that underscores why Jason might be looking for an escape route on Thanksgiving. He recounted a “full fight” with his eldest daughter, Wyatt, on November 7th over a frozen waffle.

“The argument ruins about 30 minutes of our entire day because she wants a whole waffle and I’m trying to explain to her that there’s only four waffles and there’s like 15 people,” Jason recalled.

This anecdote provides crucial context for his Thanksgiving behavior. When you are negotiating waffle rationing with a toddler, the prospect of staring silently at boiling oil next door with your father suddenly seems like a vacation. It humanizes Jason in a way that goes beyond his Super Bowl ring. He isn’t just a celebrity; he is a dad trying to explain logic to an irrational four-year-old, and losing.

Travis’s Lonely Thanksgiving

In stark contrast to Jason’s chaotic, family-filled holiday, Travis Kelce shared that his Thanksgiving would be strictly business. The Chiefs star noted he would be playing football and then immediately flying back to Kansas City.

“I’ll probably miss a Thanksgiving meal unless we win and I get some turkey on the field,” Travis said. It was a reminder of the sacrifices current players make, missing out on the very family chaos that Jason is now trying to navigate in retirement. While Jason is dodging diaper duty and frying unnecessary birds, Travis is still in the grind, hoping for a post-game turkey leg as his consolation prize.

Why We Love the Honesty

Ultimately, Jason Kelce’s confession resonates because it strips away the veneer of perfection. He doesn’t pretend to be the perfect husband who joyfully manages the children while his wife cooks. He admits he’s an “inconvenience.” He admits he hides. He admits the turkey is a prop.

In doing so, he gives permission for other parents to laugh at their own shortcomings. The holidays are stressful, loud, and exhausting. If a future Hall of Famer needs to hide next door for an hour to keep his sanity, maybe the rest of us are doing just fine. As the Kelce clan gathers to eat the turkey they need—and the one they definitely don’t—fans can rest assured that the chaos in Philadelphia is just as real as it is in their own homes.