During his legendary NFL career, Jason Kelce faced some of the most intimidating defensive players the league had to offer.
As a cornerstone of the Philadelphia Eagles‘ offensive line from 2011 to 2023, Kelce battled against the likes of Aaron Donald, Damon “Snacks” Harrison, and Dexter Lawrence.
Yet, the most surprising revelation from the now-retired center isn’t about the most famous names he faced. Instead, it’s about an under-the-radar opponent who gave him fits on the field: Poona Ford.
Speaking on Pardon My Take, Kelce admitted that it wasn’t just the big-name superstars that gave him a hard time. Some of his toughest battles were against lesser-known players whose physical traits clashed with his own skill set.
Poona Ford, the current Los Angeles Rams defensive lineman who previously played for the Seattle Seahawks and Buffalo Bills, stands out as one of the most challenging adversaries Kelce ever faced.
Poona Ford’s Unusual Style Proved a Nightmare for Kelce
While most elite defensive linemen who troubled Kelce were known for their strength and size, Ford presented an entirely different problem.
“For some reason, not the best guys sometimes gave me issues,” Kelce explained. “Like Poona Ford, backup nose guard. He sometimes gave me the most fits out of anybody.
“He had longer arms than me and he’s shorter than me. At least when I play a bigger guy I can get up on him and win the leverage battle.”
Ford‘s shorter stature combined with his longer arms was the perfect recipe for negating Kelce’s typical advantages.
“When you play somebody shorter with longer arms, I’ve negated every technical advantage I have, and I have no mass advantage,” Kelce noted.
Despite his status as an undrafted free agent who entered the league in 2018, Ford’s natural ability to disrupt plays has clearly left a lasting impression on one of the best centers in NFL history.
Comparing Ford to the NFL’s Best
While Ford made life difficult for Kelce, the retired center also acknowledged the formidable skill sets of other NFL greats.
Dexter Lawrence, known for his power and presence on the defensive line, gave Kelce nightmares during the second half of his career.
Similarly, Damon “Snacks” Harrison was another player who managed to trouble him, even though Harrison often went unnoticed by casual fans.
But when asked to name the absolute toughest opponent he ever faced, Kelce didn’t hesitate.
“The best player I ever played against was Aaron Donald, for sure,” he said. “Luckily, he chose to be a nightmare for the guard more than he was for the center, so I didn’t have to deal with that too much. He was a freak.”
Kelce‘s admiration for Donald’s talent is shared across the league. The Rams‘ defensive tackle has been a consistent force, earning numerous Defensive Player of the Year awards and cementing his legacy as one of the all-time greats.
While Jason Kelce‘s career is filled with accolades and memorable battles against top-tier players, his comments about Poona Ford offer a rare insight into how certain matchups can be unexpectedly challenging.
As Ford continues to build his career, it’s clear he has earned the respect of one of the best to ever play the center position.
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