Zach Ertz is taking a different approach than Jason Kelce when it comes to the 2025 Super Bowl.
The Washington Commanders tight end—who played with the retired lineman on the Philadelphia Eagles from 2013 to 2021—revealed he plans to stay neutral in the Feb. 9 game between his former team and the Kansas City Chiefs.
“I don't think I have a specific team,” Zach told E! News in an exclusive interview. “I had an amazing run in Philly for nine years. We have so many great relationships there, but we also have a lot of friends on Kansas City as well. I'll be happy for either team if they're able to win the game, just because I'll be able to celebrate a lot of hard work from those individuals.”
And though he isn’t taking sides during the big game, he is still feeling the sting of narrowly missing the chance to play in Super Bowl LIX after their loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Championship game Jan. 26.
“It's so fresh of not being in the game that, for me, I'll just be watching as a casual fan and hoping for entertaining football,” he emphasized. “I think these are the two best teams in the league, and they've earned their spot to be in this game.”
The 34-year-old added, “Obviously wish I was playing it with the Commanders. But for me, I'm just hoping for a good game.”
However, another former Eagles player is fully taking a stance during a game—despite his complicated loyalty. Jason admitted after his NFL retirement last year that should his former team take on his brother Travis Kelce’s Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl again, he’d “root for the Eagles, of course” while still showing his little brother some love. And beyond Jason’s candid take on his Super Bowl loyalty, Zach has nothing but fond memories of his nearly a decade playing with the retired center.
“I think Jason was one of the best leaders that I've been around,” Zach explained, “in terms of his commitment to be great and also demand greatness from those around him. He had no issue telling people that they need to step their games up, whether it be players or coaches. He was literally doing everything he could to be at his best. As a teammate of that, it can't help but make sure that you're doing the same.”
He continued, “We had an amazing career together in Philly. That bond is for life. And he was just a phenomenal player. You don't have the career that he has if you're not a really good football player, but the impact he had off the field is probably twice as much as he did on the field, which says a lot.”
While Zach may not have plans to play in the Big Game this month, the NFL star is certainly booked and busy for another Big Day: Valentine’s Day. In fact, he and wife Julie Ertz have partnered with Russell Stover for the ”Tackle Valentine’s Day” sweepstakes to send one lucky winner and a guest to the Big Game in 2026. And since the couple of more than nine years have expanded their family to include sons Madden, 4, and twins Kace and Kyren, 5 months, their plans for celebrating the holiday have also grown.
“We try to include them in our Valentine’s now,” Julie shared of her kids, “which is really fun. Our son loves reading books, chocolate, all the fun little things. And it's really just about connecting together now as a family.”
Still, the retired soccer star stressed the duo are still squeezing in some quality time, as she added, “On top of that, having our parents [allows] us to go out and have a date night.”