Jason Kelce has been praised by NFL fans for wearing a Los Angeles City Fire Department hat on ESPN’s Monday Night Countdown.
Kelce wore the blue cap at the front and center of the broadcast of the Rams’ playoff game against the Minnesota Vikings, which was moved from SoFi Stadium to Glendale, Arizona because of the ongoing fires that are still engulfing Los Angeles.
A growing force of firefighters continued to battle massive infernos across the city on Monday as more powerful winds moved in and threatened recent progress against wildfires that have destroyed thousands of homes and killed at least 24 people.
Planes doused homes and hillsides with bright pink fire-proof chemicals, crews prepared to pounce on hotspots across the region and dozens of water trucks rolled in to replenish supplies after hydrants ran dry last week.
In less than a week, four fires around America’s second-biggest city have scorched more than 62 square miles, roughly three times the size of Manhattan.
The decision was taken last week to move Monday night’s final wild card game to Arizona and it promises to be an emotional evening for the LA Rams and their fans.
That meant Kelce’s travel plans changed with ESPN’s crew in place at State Farm Stadium in Arizona to cover the game.
The LAFD cap that Travis’ older brother had on also had the Rams logo on the side.
Fans took to social media to applaud the Super Bowl winner and former Philadelphia Eagles center for wearing it on air.
One wrote: ‘Love seeing Jason Kelce rock the LAFD hat on Monday Night Countdown tonight.’
Another commented: ‘Jason Kelce with the LAFD hat on showing support on NFL Live.’
A third added: ‘Jason Kelce rocking a LAFD hat, appreciate u legend’.
The Rams made their way to the Arizona desert on Friday night and have used their divisional rival’s practice facilities all weekend.
The Cardinals opened their training facility in Tempe for the Rams’ use, and there was a big banner that said ‘Welcome Los Angeles Rams’ with the logo of both teams on the entrance gate.
Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill even sent two team planes to LA on Friday to help the team’s journey to Arizona. The Rams’ players were allowed to bring their families – and even some pets – along for the ride.
Los Angeles still hopes for a sizable homefield advantage for Monday’s game, even if it’s roughly 375 miles and a six-hour drive from SoFi Stadium.
The team´s season ticket holders bought 25,000 tickets in the first hour of availability Friday and they were lined up before sunrise on Monday to make the bus trip.
A line of fans could be seen wrapping around the stadium prior to 5:30am local time.
And once fans got on the buses, they were even met with gifts, as an X post from fan Allen Sales showed a towel and foam finger on his seat.
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’re still technically the home team – because of their familiarity with the space.
Only a few Rams employees had been directly affected by the fires until Thursday afternoon, when the Kenneth Fire broke out a few miles from the team´s training complex in suburban Woodland Hills, sending smoke billowing into the sky with alarming speed.
Defensive lineman Kobie Turner said receiver Puka Nucua’s house was in an evacuation warning zone, so he came over and slept at his house one night.
The National Weather Service warned of ‘particularly dangerous’ dry and blustery weather approaching – especially on Tuesday, when wind gusts could reach 65mph, experts say.
A large part of Southern California around Los Angeles is under this extreme fire danger warning through Wednesday, including densely populated Thousand Oaks, Northridge and Simi Valley.
Firefighters made progress over the weekend on the region’s two biggest fires – the Eaton Fire, near Pasadena, and the Palisades Fire, in a wealthy enclave along the Pacific Coast.
The Eaton Fire is roughly one-third contained, while the Palisades Fire is far 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.
