Jason Kelce Blasts Fake Rumors Over Eagles Coach's Exit

Jason Kelce spent 11 seasons learning from Jeff Stoutland, who helped turn the Philadelphia Eagles' offensive line into one of the NFL's most dominant units.

Stoutland's departure after 13 years in Philadelphia was already a seismic change for the franchise.

But a new report suggesting players wanted Stoutland gone has now drawn a furious response from his legendary center.

"I take great offense to somebody alluding to players not fighting really hard for Jeff," Kelce said on the 94WIP Morning Show on Thursday.

"That one very much upset me because the reason to move on from Jeff Stoutland had nothing to do with the players."

The remarks followed a claim from Bill Colarulo of 97.5 The Fanatic that players wanted someone new coaching the offensive line.

The report said that desire extended beyond Sirianni, the head coach.

Kelce did not hold back in his response.

"There's one thing that always frustrates me when the season is starting to divulge into what this one has so far, and that's like the leaks coming out in the unnamed sources," Kelce added.

"It really bothers me. I would take anything you hear from an unnamed source with a giant grain of salt."

Kelce's frustration was particularly centered on unnamed sources and leaks, not on Stoutland's departure itself.

He argued that sources who will not stand behind their comments publicly may have their own reasons for sharing information.

In his view, such reports can be an attempt to protect the people making organizational decisions.

"Usually that unnamed source has some type of incentive or reason that they're putting this out to a media member, and it's usually to cover their own behind," Kelce said.

Kelce also cited the high regard Stoutland's former players have for him.

He noted that left tackle Jordan Mailata and his wife, Niki, visited Stoutland at his house to pay tribute after he left the team.

"When Jeff Stoutland left, or when Jeff Stoutland was announced he wasn't coming back, Jordan Mailata and his wife went to have dinner at his home and honor that man," Kelce said.

He also pointed to Lane Johnson's retirement.

"When Lane Johnson retired, he only met with one coach. Met with Jeff Stoutland," Kelce said.

That's why Kelce said he took particular offense to any suggestion that players had not fought to keep the longtime coach.

"I don't know the way the last season went because I wasn't there. I know it wasn't great," Kelce said.

"But that one very much upset me because the reason to move on from Jeff Stoutland had nothing to do with the players."

He added: "Had to do with the building wanting to go in a different direction. That's fine, but don't give me this crap like trying to defer direction on the decisions you guys wanted to make."

Stoutland's exit was announced in February after 13 seasons with Philadelphia.

He joined the Eagles in 2013, worked under three head coaches and helped the franchise win two Super Bowls.

His work with players such as Kelce, Lane Johnson and Mailata made him one of the most respected offensive line coaches in the league.

The circumstances surrounding his departure were more complicated than a simple coaching change.

Reports indicated that Stoutland became frustrated as Sirianni and then-offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo struggled with their systems.

Philadelphia's head coach Nick Sirianni took away Stoutland's run-game coordinator title, as Patullo struggled with his system.

Reports suggested that there was a lot of internal friction building between Stoutland and the coaching staff.

The Eagles ultimately decided to part ways with Patullo, but Stoutland walked out the door as well.

Colarulo's report went viral within the Eagles world for claiming that it "wasn't only Nick Sirianni who wanted a change in the run game."

"It was also the players," Colarulo said.

That's where Kelce drew the line.

"I don't comment on things like this," Kelce said, before commenting at length.

Kelce's message was clear: the players loved Stoutland, and any suggestion otherwise is false.

He urged fans to treat unnamed sources with skepticism.