Philadelphia is known for their cheesesteaks, filled with tender beef and melty cheese that hits differently when you're in the City of Brotherly Love.
However, Eagles center Cam Jurgens may be turning those located in the city to a different kind of meat — beef jerky.
Jurgens, a second-round round pick in 2022 out of Nebraska, has big shoes to fill on the offensive line. The 25-year-old is set to be the successor to Jason Kelce, a seven-time Pro Bowler who is regarded as one of the greatest to ever play the position.
As a result it's going to take some time for Eagles fans to get used to the idea of Jurgens being under center, and not the fan favorite who helped deliver the city a Super Bowl in 2018. However, if there is one way for a player to easily get on the good side of a fan base, it's to have a nickname that stands out about the rest.
When it comes to the newest starting center for the Eagles, he may just have one of the best nicknames in football — '"Beef Jurgy."
MORE: Why Eagles signed running back Saquon Barkley
Here is more to know about the moniker for Jurgens and how it originated.
Cam Jurgens' 'Beef Jurgy' nickname, explained
Jurgens' nickname of "Beef Jurgy" dates back to his college football days at Nebraska. Originally a tight end, he made the switch to offensive line due to his blocking ability.
"It all started in 2018, when I started my college football career as a tight end," Jurgens said on his "Jurgy" website. "Not long after, the team began trying me out at center because I proved to be one of the strongest guys in the weight room and had a knack for blocking. I started splitting time between tight end and offensive line. The coaches saw true promise in me on the offensive line, and I eventually made the switch to a full-time hog.
"That's when guys on the team started calling me 'Beef Jurgy'. By then, I had put on quite a bit of weight, so it was a no-brainer. The nickname was a combination of the past, present, and a play on my last name. It didn't take long for fans and media to pick up on it and make it stick."
As the name caught on, it coincided with the emergence of the new Name, Image, and Likeness law (NIL). With a new avenue in order to make a profit, Jurgens decided to fully own the nickname and make a business deal out of it, starting out by making merchandise based on the moniker.
"I started Jurgy with my mother, Beth," Jurgens said on the company's website. "We made t-shirts and hats and started giving them out to family and friends. They were a hit, and soon we had more orders than we could handle ... Right from the start, we had amazing support from the greatest fans in college football, who loved our merchandise and our story."
What started as a clothing apparel line soon turned into a new-brainer decision — expand into the beef jerky business.
"After a successful first year, we wanted to expand our product offerings," Jurgens said. "Beef Jerky was a no-brainer, but we had no clue where to start. Luckily, we found a local, small-town meat locker in Nebraska that was willing to work with us. We worked with them to create the first version of Beef Jurgy Jerky. We had tons of fun handing out jerky to friends, family, and teammates — and right away we knew we were onto something special."
Jurgens intended to hand out samples at the 2022 NFL Combine as a way to connect with coaches and other staff members, as well as spread awareness, but he admitted he "forgot them at home." It didn't matter, as the media picked up on the story and ran with it, increasing the popularity of the brand.
Since then, the brand has taken off. Originally dubbed, "Beef Jurgy," the company name is now simply, "Jurgy." There are five different flavors to choose from — original, cracked pepper, teriyaki, hot honey, and mango habanero.
"It's just something fun to do," Jurgens said during a 2022 interview in "The Rich Eisen Show."Growing up, we deer hunted, and we'd make our own jerky from that. So, it's something that's been really interesting to me."
There are very few players who can replace the personality and charisma that Kelce exuded during his time with the Eagles, but a jerky-loving center from Nebraska with the nickname "Beef Jurgy" may just do the trick.