The Pittsburgh Steelers’ fanbase is without doubt one of the greatest on this planet, with followers doing an incredible job of taking up different staff’s stadiums at instances. Because of the Steelers nearly all the time being aggressive, followers often have one thing to cheer for, staying engaged all through the course of a whole season. It is smart why individuals from Pittsburgh and the encompassing space can be Steelers followers, however they are often discovered nearly anyplace, thanks partly to each their historical past of success and the lengthy record of legendary gamers they’ve had on their roster. It appears even one future Corridor of Fame heart from Cleveland couldn’t assist however turn out to be a Steelers fan.
Jason Kelce was a middle for the Philadelphia Eagles from 2011 to 2023, racking up quite a few Professional Bowls and All-Professional alternatives. Kelce retired this offseason and certainly received’t have to attend lengthy to get the decision to be immortalized within the Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame, however earlier than all the celebrity, he was only a younger soccer fan in Cleveland Heights, Ohio. One would assume that might imply Kelce was a Cleveland Browns fan rising up, however in an interview with Nevada Sports activities Internet, he revealed that he was really a Steelers fan, with Jerome Bettis having been his favourite participant.
“Jerome Bettis, he was my favourite participant rising up,” Kelce stated. “That’s who I needed to be, I needed to be a working again and simply beloved watching him play. I used to be born in Cleveland, and I even grew to become a makeshift Steelers fan when the Browns left to turn out to be the Ravens. It’s like sacrilegious in Cleveland, all people was like, ‘How are you a Steelers fan now?’ I’m like, we don’t have a staff anymore, that is my favourite participant.”
Kelce is referring to when the Browns left Cleveland for Baltimore in 1996, with Cleveland not having a staff once more till 1999. It appears to be like like they took Kelce with them and dropped him off in Pittsburgh on the best way, which is another win the Steelers can rely over the Browns. Not solely have the Steelers dominated the Browns since they returned in 1999, however they even took one in all their followers who would ultimately turn out to be one of many biggest facilities of all time.
Irrespective of how a lot Deshaun Watson desires the Browns to be the Steelers’ biggest rival, causes like this are why that may’t be true. Whereas Bettis and the Steelers have been competing for, and finally profitable, Tremendous Bowls, the Browns have been struggling to tread water, posting solely 4 profitable information since they returned to Cleveland. Throughout that very same timespan, the Steelers solely had a dropping document twice. Suffice to say, Kelce made the best resolution to turn out to be a Steelers fan.
The Steelers have among the finest fanbases on this planet, and whereas Kelce’s coronary heart in all probability belongs to the Eagles now, it nonetheless feels good to know he was as soon as a Steelers fan. Whereas he didn’t precisely select the Steelers over the Browns, he did select them over the Ravens, which is one other win over a unique division rival. Perhaps Kelce can persuade his brother’s famous person girlfriend to symbolize Pittsburgh when each brothers have their cleats hung up. Taylor Swift carrying a Bettis jersey will surely be one thing Steelers followers must see to consider.
