Jason Kelce sharply disputed a viral social media claim that Philadelphia Eagles “water boys” are being paid hefty sums for simple sideline tasks, calling the portrayal “wildly misleading” and using the moment to defend the trained professionals who keep NFL players healthy.
The viral post suggested sideline staff were earning significant money — “thousands per game,” according to the claim — for duties that amounted to little more than handing out water. Kelce pushed back, naming the man often seen squiring water to players as Joe O’Pella and stressing that he is not a casual helper but an athletic trainer who has been with the team for more than 15 years. “The guy squirting water into Zach Ertz’s mouth is Joe O’Pella. He’s an athletic trainer that’s been with the team for over 15 years at this point,” Kelce wrote on social media.
Kelce went further in explaining why the “water boy” label is misleading. He said O’Pella is a credentialed professional who has handled serious medical work for players — including rehabilitating Kelce’s ACL in his second year — and holds an advanced degree. “A guy who rehabbed my ACL tear in my second year, has a masters degree from Pitt, and has years of experience keeping Eagles players healthy and on the field being called a ‘waterboy’ is crazy,” Kelce wrote, calling the original post “absolutely hilarious” and promising to give O’Pella “s___” for the mischaracterization.
The exchange underscores a common disconnect between what fans see on the sideline and the broader responsibilities of team medical and performance staff. Athletic trainers, equipment managers and other support personnel are often the visible face of player care during games, but their roles include injury prevention, immediate care, rehabilitation planning and coordination with doctors and strength staff — duties that typically require specialized education, certifications and years of experience.
Kelce’s intervention did not provide independent salary details to contradict the viral claim; rather, it focused on correcting the public’s understanding of who does the work and what that work entails. By naming O’Pella and detailing his background, Kelce aimed to shift attention away from a caricature of the job and toward the expertise behind it.
Social media-driven stories that reduce complex roles to a single snapshot can quickly shape perceptions, particularly in high-profile sports settings where every visible action is scrutinized. Kelce’s response highlights how easily those narratives can skew without context and how players themselves sometimes step in to defend the behind-the-scenes staff whose efforts are essential to team performance.
In closing, Kelce asked followers to “clear the air,” noting that the employees carrying bottles on the sideline “actually serve much bigger roles on NFL teams.” The exchange is the latest example of athletes pushing back on oversimplified portrayals of support staff and calling for greater recognition of the professionals who work out of the spotlight.