Summary
Jason Kelce, the starting center for the Philadelphia Eagles and brother of tight end Travis Kelce, is currently looking into revivingBackyard Footballand other parts of theBackyard Sportsseries. The charming football game may not be the most successful sports video game franchise of all time, but it still has plenty of fans out there. It seems that even real-world sports stars remember the series fondly.
Players who came of age in the late ’90s and early 2000s likely recall the collection of sports games that featured big-headed, cartoon children competing in little league-style events. Beginning withBackyard Baseballin 1997, the franchise later expanded to include soccer, basketball, hockey, and football variations. At its height, the series even featured child versions of professional players. Few critics rankBackyard Footballamongthe best non-NFL football gamesof all time, but it still has a loyal following among gamers who grew up with the series.
On the most recent episode of theNew Heightspodcast, the show hosted by brothers Jason and Travis Kelce, Jason revealed that he’s been looking into bringing back theBackyard Footballseries. The topic arose during a discussion of Travis Kelce’s recent performance in the playoffs. Travis, a superstar who is in theMadden NFL 2499 club, brought up memories of the old games. In response, Jason explained that he still loves theBackyardgames and that he’d love to seeBackyard FootballandBackyard Baseball, in particular, brought back. To this end, he stated that he’s been trying to find out who owns the rights to the series, apparently so he could potentially acquire them in the future.
Jason Kelce looking for the owner ofBackyard Football
Kelce appears to be serious about this ambition as the podcast’s Twitter account later posted a message with the clip and a request that anyone with knowledge of the ownership rights get in touch. Fans were quick to respond to this message with information about how the IP has changed hands over the years as well as with suggestions about how Kelce should proceed.
Travis and Jason Kelce appear to have a passion for sports video games, which would explain Jason’s current ambition. Later in the same podcast episode, they had an extended discussion of theNFL Blitzseries and their nostalgia for it. It seems that both the console game and theNFL Blitzarcade machinefeatured prominently in their collective childhoods.
This news will surely please fans of the classic football series and those who are eager to relive a piece of their youth. Of course, Kelce is only talking about the possibility at the moment, and it would still be a long way off if a new game were to come from these plans. Still, Kelce’s apparent passion is cause for optimism. Given the humor of the Kelce brothers and the old goofiness of the franchise, a newBackyard Footballgame could become one of thestrangest American football gamesever.
