After battling NFL's elite defensive linemen for 13 seasons with Philadelphia Eagles, Jason Kelce recently revealed his unexpected choice for the most challenging opponent of his career.
During an appearance on the "Pardon My Take" podcast, Kelce first acknowledged the obvious: "The best player I ever played against was Aaron Donald, for sure." However, he explained that Donald "chose to be a nightmare for the guard more than the center," sparing Kelce from regular matchups against the future Hall of Famer.
Los Angeles Chargers defensive tackle Poona Ford (95) reacts after sacking Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) during the first half at SoFi Stadium. © Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images © Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
Kelce also highlighted Dexter Lawrence, who became "a nightmare" in the latter part of his career, and Damon "Snacks" Harrison as formidable opponents.
But when asked specifically about which player consistently gave him the most problems, Kelce's answer surprised many: journeyman defensive tackle Poona Ford.
"I was always for some reason like not the best guy (against) Poona Ford," Kelce admitted. "He had longer arms and he's shorter than me. At least with the bigger guys I can get under him and get leverage on him, and if I play a shorter guy, at least I have longer arms. So when you play someone shorter with longer arms, I've negated every technical advantage I have."
This unique physical matchup eliminated Kelce's usual technical advantages. "I have no mass advantage... I hated playing Poona."
What makes this revelation particularly interesting is Ford's relatively low profile. The 5-foot-11, 310-pound defensive tackle has bounced around the league, playing for three different teams over seven seasons and is set to join his fourth team for the 2025 season.
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Despite his journeyman status, Ford has compiled respectable numbers with 11.5 sacks, 229 tackles, 37 tackles for loss, and 39 QB hits-an impressive tally for a player most casual fans wouldn't recognize.
Kelce's candid assessment reminds us that sometimes it's not the most celebrated opponents who present the greatest challenges, but rather those with the specific attributes to neutralize even the most accomplished players' strengths.
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This story was originally published March 13, 2025 at 10:08 PM.