Retired Philadelphia Eagles star Jason Kelce has candidly laid bare his heartbreak after his wife, Kylie Kelce, suffered an “absolutely devastating” pregnancy loss at the start of their marriage—recalling how the experience made him better understand the true value of having a close-knit support system outside of the home.
The former athlete, 38, who hosts the podcast “New Heights” with brother Travis, opened up about the tragedy in an emotional speech at the March of Dimes 43rd Annual Sports Luncheon, where he accepted the March of Dimes Sports Achievement Award, which Kylie, 33, presented.
Taking to the stage, Kelce reflected on the shocking loss, which happened on his birthday on Nov. 5, 2018, describing it as being so heartbreaking that he didn’t know how he and his wife would ever recover.
At the time, the sporting legend was a leading star on the Eagles, a team that he helped to lead to a Super Bowl victory just months before his wife lost their first child.
“I remember going out to my truck in the middle of practice and meetings, overcome with grief and emotion,” Kelce recalled of how he tried to deal with his feelings.
However, while he struggled to come to terms with the loss, the athlete said it made him realize just how significant his team was in his life, helping to provide him with a place outside his home where he was able to safely grieve.
“You really find out in moments like those how awesome sports are [and] how awesome teams are,” he said.
“There are so many people that shared with me, coaches, teammates, people within the Eagles building, friends of ours, and you really find out how prevalent this actually is. How often miscarriages happen. And it’s something that I think, a lot of times, often doesn’t get said and spoken about.”
The star athlete noted that having a team of support around him and Kylie was “hugely impactful,” adding that it helped them realize they were “not alone in this.”
At the end of his speech, Kelce noted that he was grateful to everyone that gave their “time, resources, energy [and] passion,” to the March of Dimes, which is a nonprofit organization that fights for the health of moms and babies.
Kylie previously spoke about the loss on her podcast, “Not Gonna Lie,” telling fans that they discovered they were expecting in August 2018, but lost the baby soon after telling their family about the news.
While the couple were left shell-shocked by the loss, they have since gone on to welcome four healthy, happy children: Wyatt, 5, Elliotte, 3, Bennett, 1, and 8-month-old Finnley, who they are raising inside their expansive Pennsylvania estate, which is located in the upscale Philadelphia suburb of Haverford.
Over the years, as their family has expanded, so too has their property, which is now made up of three adjacent dwellings that they bought to form one giant compound, with multiple reports suggesting that they are looking to build one giant “luxury mansion” at the heart of the 10-acre spread.
It has taken several years for that spread to come together; Kelce bought the first of the three homes—a four-bedroom, 2.5-bathroom property—for the relatively low sum of $680,000 in 2018. The property came with a three-car garage, a greenhouse, and a custom outdoor pool with waterfalls and a hot tub.
A finished basement, complete with a fireplace, shows the familiar background where Jason records his podcast.
In 2020, Jason bought an adjoining 8-acre property for $3.96 million, then added a third in 2023 for $1.35 million.
However, according to comments he made during a planning meeting in March, he is actually hoping to construct another separate abode.
The retired sports star appeared in person at the meeting, having made a personal plea to the local zoning board in Haverford Township on Feb. 20, asking that he be allowed to make several extensive updates on his land, including the construction of a new home and the addition of a fence to improve “security” on the property.
Jason cited his family’s “unique” security requirements while making his case to local authorities and expressing his desire to remain in the local neighborhood.
“We want to be in this area, we like this area a lot,” he said, according to local news network WGAL. “Obviously, things for my family are quite unique with the security purposes. We’d like to just deter a little bit of the foot traffic coming in and out of the home.”
Jason added that his plans—which also included the removal of several slopes on the land—were drawn up to ensure that any changes, including the addition of a fence, will adhere to the “aesthetic of the area.”
“We were trying to put a fence that sufficiently [deters foot traffic], but also appeals to the aesthetic of the area and that people would appreciate,” he said.
The couple’s portfolio also extends to Philadelphia native Kylie’s beloved Jersey Shore.
In 2023, they purchased a $2.2 million beachfront property in Sea Isle City, which features wraparound decks, skylights, and gorgeous views of Ludlam Beach.