I never thought I would mention former Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce in the same sentence as Merriam-Webster.

But a colleague recently reminded me that Merriam-Webster’s word of the year for 2023 was “authentic.” Defined as “not false or imitation: real, actual” or “true to one’s own personality, spirit or character,” many of us witnessed this special trait when we watched Kelce announce his retirement earlier this year. During the press conference, Kelce was raw and unapologetic as he recounted the significant accomplishments over his career. On one of the most emotional days of his life, he did what he always did: He showed his true self.