Jason Kelce Vows to Return His Super Bowl Luchador Mask to Its Rightful Owner

Jason Kelce has vowed to return his celebratory Super Bowl luchador mask after discovering he stole it from an eighth grader.

Dallas resident Elijah Smith told NBCDFW that he was wearing the mask when he encountered Kelce at a Super Bowl afterparty last weekend. On his New Heights podcast, Kelce reported that he found the mask on the floor of a club. "There's something about finding that luchador mask that really just transformed the night," Kelce said at the time. "It really did. It was insane."

But Smith contests Kelce’s series of events. "I gave him my mask and then he dropped it and then picked it back up,” he clarified. “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.”

Smith said he and his friend attempted to go after Kelce and intercept the mask once he and his party left, but the venue was too noisy and crowded for them to get through. "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," Smith said.

Elijah’s parents, Thad and Sarah, say the mask is a Super Bowl good luck charm. It’s been to four Super Bowls and was even signed last year by Chiefs cornerback Trent McDuffie. "Last year when I wore it in Arizona, I feel like every single time I put it on we would score a touchdown," Elijah said.

"The only thing is, Jason if you're listening, we just need the mask back before the season starts. Because it's a lucky mask, and so the Chiefs need the luck. I'm sorry we're not Eagles fans," said his father.

On Friday, Kelce responded on X (formerly Twitter). “Operation ‘Get Elijah His Mask Back’ is underway! I appreciate everyone bringing this to my attention, and look forward to uniting Elijah with his mask once again,” Kelce said. “Your mask indeed brings great fortune, I owe you big time, sorry it was commandeered.”

Sarah said her son wasn’t particularly bummed when Kelce ran off with his special mask; he was just happy that one of his idols was enjoying it so much. “I asked him when we got to the room, 'Wait, he has your mask?' He wasn't upset, he was a little bummed because it's his autographed mask with Trent McDuffie, but at the end of the day we were all celebrating a Super Bowl win."

Elijah agrees, but he can think of one way Kelce could make the inadvertent theft up to him. "It would be pretty cool if he autographed it and sent it back," Elijah said.