The celebration of the Chiefs’ 25-22 Super Bowl victory over the 49ers is hard to summarize without mentioning Jason Kelce’s famed luchador mask that was seen in various photos on social media.
Yet, unknowingly, Kelce was wearing the mask that belongs to Kansas City fan and 8th-grader Elijah Smith.
On Friday morning, Kelce responded to Smith’s family, based in Dallas, after they reached out to tell the seven-time Pro-Bowler that the mask belonged to their son.
“Operation ‘Get Elijah His Mask Back’ is underway,” Kelce posted on X.
“I appreciate everyone bringing this to my attention, and look forward to uniting Elijah with his mask once again, he added. “Your mask indeed brings great fortune, I owe you big time, sorry it was commandeered.”
Elijah explained he gave the mask to Kelce before the two posed for a picture together.
“Then I got a picture with him wearing it and then I just hung out next to them for five to 10 minutes, they were dancing and everything,” Elijah told NBC.
The 8th-grader explained he tried to run after Jason with his friend for the mask, but the crowd was too overwhelming and loud to get his attention.
“I saw videos on Instagram this week of him wearing it at the next after-party he went to, so he clearly never took it off the whole night,” he added.
On the most recent episode of Kelce’s “New Heights” podcast co-hosted with younger brother and Chiefs star tight end Travis Kelce, Jason said the mask made the night even more memorable.
In Jason’s version of the evening, which differs from what Elijah said, the Eagles center said he found the mask on the floor at the Chiefs’ after-party.
“There’s something about finding that luchador mask that really just transformed the night,” Kelce said. “It really did. It was insane.”
Elijah and his parents, Thad and Sarah, wish to hold on to the mask as a good omen for the next season.
However, Elijah hopes to get another autograph in return.
“He was happy. He was excited. There was so much celebrating going on and dancing. And you couldn’t help but be excited,” said Sarah Smith. “I asked him when we got to the room, ‘Wait, he has your mask?’ And he’s like ‘Yea’ and I said ‘Are you upset?’ And he just wasn’t upset, he was a little bummed because it’s his autographed mask with Trent McDuffie, that was upsetting, but at the end of the day we were all celebrating a Super Bowl win.”
Kelce was in attendance at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas in support of Travis, who added his third Super Bowl in the last five seasons with Kansas City.
