Jason Kelce Speaks Out About ‘Spitgate’ in Philadelphia Eagles Opening Game: ‘What Are We Doing?’

Jason Kelce is disappointed in Philadelphia Eagles star Jalen Carter. 

The defensive tackle caused a stir before the Eagles had even started their opening drive against the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday, Sept. 4 when he spit on quarterback Dak Prescott.

The “Spitgate” moment got Carter — widely heralded as one of the league’s premier defensive players — ejected from the game. 

“What are we doing? I don’t understand, like, why that would happen,” Jason, 37, said on the Wednesday, Sept. 10 episode of his and brother Travis Kelce’s New Heights podcast. “And it was just a very frustrating moment, not only because he’s one of our best players, but it’s just a really awful thing to kinda be out there. It’s an awful thing to be a part of as a fan base, as an organization, and for that player.”

And while Jason, a former center for the Eagles, acknowledged some of Carter’s past public struggles, he urged the player to step up. 

“He has had all of these character things or whatever surround him,” Jason said. “And then to do this, all of that starts getting brought back up, which, yeah, just like, man, this sucks on so many levels. He has to be smarter than this. He has to be better than this.” 

Jason then shared a message to Carter.

“He has a chance to be one of the best defensive linemen in this era of football,” Kelce said. “That’s how good this kid can be. That’s how dominant he has been to this point. Don’t let this dumb behavior jeopardize the career and person and legacy you could build, especially in this city.” 

All of which had Travis recalling an experience when he was ejected from a game for throwing a towel at an official.

“You just gotta be able to keep your composure, understand that this team needs you, you know what I mean?” Travis said. “Just keep your blood pressure down. Whatever you gotta do to stay in that f—— game.”

Instead of spitting, Jason suggested that Carter channel any aggression he felt toward Prescott into his performance on the field. 

“You don’t need to do that back,” he said, acknowledging that Prescott had spit on the ground prior to Carter retaliating. “You got four quarters to do something back to this dude.”

Calling the situation “unfortunate,” Jason added, “Now moving forward, we need you to be better than that, Jalen. We have to have you better than that, and you need to be better than that for yourself. Alright?”

As punishment for the offense, Carter has been fined $57,222 — what he makes per game — but is expected to be back playing with the Eagles on Sunday, Sept. 14 when they face off against Travis’ Kansas City Chiefs for a Super Bowl LIX rematch.

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After Jason called the start to last week’s game the “craziest start” to a season, he added that the “Eagles are pretty good at getting rejected,” to which Travis jokingly replied: “Let’s do it next Sunday, boys.” 

In the wake of the controversy, Carter has apologized for his actions, saying “it was a mistake that happened on my side. It won’t happen again.”