Jason Kelce is being praised by NFL fans for wearing a Los Angeles City Fire Department hat during ESPN’s Monday Night Countdown.
Kelce wore the blue cap front and center during the broadcast of the Rams’ playoff game against the Minnesota Vikingsthat was moved from SoFi Stadium to Glendale, Arizona due to the ongoing fires that continue to engulf Los Angeles.
Recently retired Rams legend Aaron Donald wore the same hat on the field before the game.
A growing group of firefighters continued to battle massive infernos in the city on Monday, as stronger winds threatened recent progress in the fight against wildfires that have destroyed thousands of homes and killed at least 24 people.
Planes showered homes and hillsides with bright pink fire-resistant chemicals, crews prepared to attack hotspots across the region and dozens of water trucks flew in to replenish supplies after hydrants dried up last week.
In less than a week, four fires around America’s second-largest city have destroyed more than 60 square miles, about three times the size of Manhattan.
Jason Kelce wore a Los Angeles City Fire Department cap during ESPN’s Rams-Vikings coverage
Last week the decision was made to move the final wild card game from Monday night to Arizona and it promises to be an emotional evening for the LA Rams and their fans.
That meant Kelce’s travel plans changed while the ESPN crew was at State Farm Stadium in Arizona to cover the game.
The LAFD cap that Travis’ older brother wore also had the Rams logo on the side.
Fans took to social media to shout out the Super Bowl winner and former Philadelphia Eagles center for wearing it on air.
One wrote: ‘Excited to see Jason Kelce rocking the LAFD hat tonight on Monday Night Countdown.’
Another commented, “Jason Kelce wearing the LAFD hat during his show of support on NFL Live.”
A third added: “Jason Kelce rocking a LAFD hat, appreciate your legend.”
The Rams headed to the Arizona desert on Friday evening and spent the weekend using their division rival’s practice facilities.
The Cardinals opened their training facility in Tempe for use by the Rams, and a large banner reading “Welcome Los Angeles Rams” with both teams’ logos hung on the entrance gate.
A growing group of firefighters continued to battle the massive infernos in Los Angeles
Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill even sent two team planes to LA on Friday to help the team’s trip to Arizona. The Rams’ players were allowed to bring their families – and even some pets – along for the ride.
Los Angeles is still hoping for significant home field advantage for Monday’s game, even though it is about 370 miles and a six-hour drive from SoFi Stadium.
The team’s season ticket holders purchased 25,000 tickets in the first hour of availability on Friday and they lined up before dawn on Monday to take the bus trip.
Before 5:30 am local time, a line of fans could be seen around the stadium.
And once fans boarded the buses, they even received gifts, such as an X-post from fan Allen Sales showed a towel and a foam finger on his chair.
Los Angeles won nine straight games in Arizona before the streak was snapped earlier this season.
McVay said Los Angeles requested the visitors’ locker room on Monday — even though they are still technically the home team — because of their familiarity with the space.
Only a few Rams employees were directly affected by the fires until Thursday afternoon, when the Kenneth Fire broke out a few miles from the team’s training complex in the suburb of Woodland Hills, sending smoke billowing into the air at an alarming rate.
A firefighting helicopter drops water as the fire grows in the Palisades
Four fires have consumed more than 60 square miles in LA’s most affluent neighborhoods, wiping out the homes and restaurants of A-list celebrities among the 12,300 buildings
Defensive lineman Kobie Turner said receiver Puka Nucua’s home was in an evacuation warning zone, so he came to sleep at his house one night.
The National Weather Service warned of “particularly dangerous” dry and stormy weather ahead, especially on Tuesday, when winds could gust up to 65 mph, experts said.
Much of Southern California around Los Angeles is under this extreme fire danger warning through Wednesday, including heavily populated Thousand Oaks, Northridge and Simi Valley.
Firefighters made progress this weekend on the region’s two largest fires: the Eaton Fire, near Pasadena, and the Palisades Fire, in a wealthy enclave along the Pacific coast.
The Eaton fire is about one-third contained, while the Palisades fire is much less contained.
The death toll is likely to rise, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said Monday. At least two dozen were missing, he said.