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Jason Kelce wears shirt with USA Rugby sensation Ilona Maher’s face on it

Matt Connollyby:Matt Connolly07/30/24

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Ilona Maher
(Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports)

USA Rugby star Ilona Maher has seen her popularity explode in recent days thanks to her performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics. One of her biggest new fans is former Philadelphia Eagles star offensive lineman Jason Kelce.

The recently retired Kelce has been supporting Team USA everywhere at the Summer Olympics, and recently told Ilona Maher that he would be the newest USA Rugby super fan.

“I am officially a fan,” Jason Kelce told Ilona Maher on Instagram.

Jason Kelce then showed off his fandom on Tuesday as Ilona Maher and USA Rugby won a bronze medal in a stunning win over Australia. Jason Kelce arrived for the action in a shirt with Maher’s face on it. You can check it out below:

Team USA was a heavy underdog against Australia but came out on top in the bronze medal game as Spiff Sedrick would not be denied.

The United States trailed 12-7 with seconds remaining, before Sedrick erupted through the defense and raced nearly the length of the field for a try. The ensuing successful kick lifted the United States to a 14-12 victory over Australia.

This bronze medal is the first medal in the history of United States Women’s Rugby at the Olympic Games.

More on Ilona Maher, Team USA Rugby

Ilona Maher made headlines going into the Games with her openness about her physique.

Not only can she run fast, she hits like a Mack truck. So when people on social media comment on her appearance, when it comes to height and weight, Maher decided to give some perspective.

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Responding in a video to a comment that said she had a body mass index of 30%, Maher took it in stride.

“Hi, thank you for this comment, I think you were trying to roast me, but this is actually a fact,” Maher said. “I do have a BMI of 30, well, 29.3 to be more exact. I’ve been considered overweight my whole life. In middle school, in high school, I was always considered overweight.

“I remember vividly one time in high school, I (turned in a) physical to the office, and right at the bottom of the page, it said overweight. And I was so embarrassed to turn that in and to have that written there. So my whole life, I’ve been this way.” 

Maher had one of the highlights of the Olympics when she ran through a defender on her way to a try last week. Her popularity has exploded, and she now has more than 1.8 million followers on Instagram. That includes former NFL star Jason Kelce.