The elder Kelce brother officially became a women’s rugby ‘super fan’ following their interaction.
As the 2024 Paris Olympics kicked off in late July, Team USA women’s rugby gained a new super fan, Jason Kelce, thanks to the “recruiting” efforts of Ilona Maher. Now, the 27-year-old rugby center has shared her candid opinion of the retired Philadelphia Eagles player.
“Women’s water polo has Flavor Flav as their super fan, and you are a girl dad,” Maher told Kelce in a viral video she shared via TikTok ahead of Team USA winning bronze in women’s rugby. “Do you get anything from being our super fan? No. There’s no reward, no money, no benefits. I don’t even think I can get you free stuff.”
Despite the lack of rewards, Kelce, 36, turned to the camera and declared, “I am officially a fan of women’s rugby Olympics.”
Maher then exclaimed, “We’ve got Jason Kelce!” and everyone around them cheered.
@ilonamaher We got Jason Kelce @Team USA @paris2024 @Olympics @USA Rugby #jasonkelce ♬ original sound – Ilona Maher
After meeting Kelce, Maher opened up about what the Olympics interaction was like in an Aug. 1 sit-down during Watch With Alex Cooper.
“OK, can we talk about your moment with rugby’s newest fan, Jason Kelce? How did this happen?” Alex Cooper asked her. “This, like, took over the internet. Tell me everything.”
“It was really cool to have him and Kylie Kelce there,” Maher shared. “Kylie is such a big fan of women’s sports and you know, them and their three girls. So to have her bring him out to a rugby game… And he’s a football guy, so I think rugby really resonates with him.”
Maher said the team gave Kelce a rugby jersey that was “just so tight” on him, but he wore it anyway.
“And then he came back the next day for our semi-finals, and he wore the jersey at a gymnastics event,” she added. “So maybe Simone and Suni saw it, I hope.”
The full episode of Watch With Alex Cooper is available to stream on Peacock.
