Young fans take selfies with Jason Kelce during his celebrity appearance in Sea Isle last June for an autism awareness fundraiser.
By DONALD WITTKOWSKI
The sign in front of the Sea Isle City Welcome Center makes it clear which team the folks in this beach town are rooting for in the Super Bowl.
Go Eagles, it proclaims.
While it is no surprise that a town that falls well within the Philly-South Jersey sports universe would pull for the Eagles over the Kansas City Chiefs in Sunday's Super Bowl, there is another big reason that Sea Isle is so loyal to the Birds.
Big as in 6-foot-3, 280 pounds.
A vacationer in Sea Isle for years, Eagles All-Pro and Pro-Bowl center Jason Kelce became a hometown guy last year when he and his wife, Kylie, bought a summer place in the resort.
It sounds like they were longtime fans of Sea Isle City, real estate broker John Burke said of Kelce and Kylie.
Burke, of the Burke & Co. group with Long & Foster Real Estate, sold the Kelces their summer home. He noted that Kelce and his wife had rented a vacation home in Sea Isle for years before making the decision to buy their own place.
The town in many ways and the people in town in many ways matched their values, Burke said.
Although they are a successful couple, Jason and Kylie are salt of the earth, kind and as easy to work for as anyone we've worked for, Burke said of his company's dealings with the Kelces.
The Go Eagles sign is prominently displayed in front of the Sea Isle City Welcome Center.
Other people in Sea Isle who know Kelce describe him as friendly, funny and approachable. They say it is not unusual to run into him on the beach, in a bar or to see him eating at a local restaurant over the summer.
He is very cordial and accommodating to everyone who talks to him and wants their picture taken with him, said Mike Monichetti, owner of Mike's Seafood & Dock Restaurant in Sea Isle's historic Fish Alley neighborhood.
He's very people-friendly, Monichetti added. He goes out of his way to be friendly to people. Actually, he's very funny. We've had some very interesting conversations.
Monichetti has gotten to know Jason Kelce and his brother, Travis, from their stops at Mike's Seafood & Dock Restaurant for dinner. Their parents also have had dinner at Mike's Seafood.
They love Mike's Seafood, Monichetti said. It's one of their favorite places to come to. He (Jason) spends a lot of time on the dock restaurant. He's a really good customer here.
By now, every football fan in Philadelphia and Kansas City knows that the Kelce brothers will be facing each other in the Super Bowl. Travis, the Chiefs' star tight end, is, like Jason, a Pro Bowler and All-Pro player.
Hundreds of fans swarmed Jason and Travis for autographs and selfies during their celebrity appearance last June in Sea Isle to raise money for the Eagles Autism Foundation.
Jason Kelce has appeared two years in a row at the Ocean Drive bar and sister property O'Donnell's Pour House in Sea Isle as part of a guest bartending role to raise money for his Team 62, which is part of the Eagles Autism Challenge, an annual fundraiser for the Eagles Autism Foundation.
In a surprise, Jason brought along Travis and Eagles offensive left tackle Jordan Mailata to the 2022 autism fundraiser. Surrounded by adoring fans, Jason's appearance was seemingly more rock star-like than football star.
Mike's Seafood & Dock Restaurant owner Mike Monichetti, center, is joined by Jason and Travis Kelce. (Photo courtesy of Mike Monichetti)
One of the inspirations for Kelce's Team 62 is the annual major fundraiser for autism awareness organized by Mike Monichetti, his wife, Jeannie, and Mike's Seafood & Dock Restaurant.
He's a great ambassador for the Philadelphia Eagles football team, Monichetti said of Kelce.
Kathy Larkin, manager of the Ocean Drive and O'Donnell's Pour House, said there are plans to make Kelce's fundraiser for autism awareness an annual event at both locations.
It's fortunate that we have been able to do it, Larkin said.
Kelce's connections to the Ocean Drive and O'Donnell's Pour House predated the fundraiser and his 2018 marriage to Kylie.
He's been in the Pour House and Ocean Drive with his parents before he was married. Now, he comes with his wife and kids, Larkin said.
The only thing I know is, Jason's a great guy, she continued. His wife is great. Their children are sweet.
Jason and Kylie have two daughters and are expecting their third child any day now. Kylie, who is nine months pregnant, will bring her OB-GYN with her to the Super Bowl, the Kelces have announced.
Meanwhile, Larkin and Monichetti are among the Eagles fans in Sea Isle who are predicting a Philly win in the Super Bowl.
Sea Isle Mayor Leonard Desiderio also believes the Eagles will capture the championship.
I believe that they are destined to win, and with Sea Isle City homeowner Jason Kelce, they will, Desiderio said.
Jason Kelce signs autographs during his celebrity bartending appearance at the Ocean Drive's outdoor bar in 2022.
