PHILADELPHIA — Jason Kelce, the heart and soul of the Philadelphia Eagles’ offensive line for over a decade, has decided to hang up his cleats. In an emotional farewell ceremony on Monday at the team’s practice facility, the 36-year-old center announced his retirement from the NFL after 13 seasons, all spent with the Eagles franchise that drafted him in 2011.
Kelce’s retirement marks the end of an era in Philadelphia and a massive loss for an offensive line that has been a cornerstone of the team’s success. Known for his gritty play, leadership, and revolutionary understanding of the game, Kelce departs as a surefire Hall of Famer and one of the greatest centers to ever play the game.
“It has always been a goal of mine to play my whole career in one city,” Kelce said through tears, his voice cracking with emotion. “I couldn’t have dreamt a better one if I tried.”
The Eagles reportedly did everything in their power to convince Kelce to stay, even offering the veteran center a staggering $9 million contract for the 2024 season according to multiple sources. However, Kelce ultimately decided that the time was right to begin the next chapter of his life after an extraordinary football journey.
He knows that he wasn’t getting younger, and seeing his brother winning another Super Bowl had him rethink maybe going back to play another season, but he took the best decision as he feels that he needed to stop his career,” a source close to Kelce told the media outlet US Sun. “He loves Philly, the franchise, but he also wants to spend more time with his family and start another career in his life, which he knows is going to be very exciting.”
A Legendary Career Comes to an End
Kelce’s retirement brings the curtain down on one of the most accomplished careers by an interior offensive lineman in recent memory. The Ohio native was selected by the Eagles in the sixth round of the 2011 NFL Draft after a standout college career at Cincinnati. Few could have predicted at the time just how valuable of a draft pick he would prove to be.
After being moved to center from guard early in his pro career, Kelce blossomed into one of the most talented and intelligent players at the position. His combination of athleticism, technique, and football IQ made him a perennial All-Pro and lynchpin of Philadelphia’s offense. He started 176 regular season games and 19 playoff contests over his 13 seasons.
Kelce’s crowning achievement came in the 2017 season when he was a key cog in the Eagles’ run to the team’s first Super Bowl championship. His iconic “Underdog” speech prior to the playoff run became a rallying cry and embodied the gritty, overachieving spirit of that Philly team. Kelce was named an All-Pro that year at the age of 30.
The accolades continued to pour in over the remaining years of his career as Kelce established himself as arguably the best center of his generation. He earned five overall All-Pro selections and made six trips to the Pro Bowl. Analytics website ProFootballFocus graded him as a top-five player at his position in seven different seasons from 2013-2022.
While his on-field dominance is remarkable enough, Kelce was also known for his eccentric personality and unique ability to connect with Philadelphia’s fanbase. His epic championship parade speech after the Super Bowl LII victory is the stuff of local legend, featuring an impassioned rant and prompting raucous applause and laughter with his blunt dose of Philly attitude.
A Broadcasting Future on the Horizon?
Though he is leaving the gridiron, Kelce’s outsized charisma and football knowledge could make him an intriguing media personality in his post-playing career. He has already gained broadcast experience as a guest analyst, filling in for Amazon’s Thursday Night Football coverage last season.
According to Front Office Sports, Kelce met with executives from ESPN and Fox during Super Bowl week about potential opportunities. His candid and unapologetic style could prove to be a refreshing presence in a broadcast booth.
However, those plans seem to be on the backburner for now as Kelce savor the moments with his family following an unforgettable playing career. His retirement ceremony featured plenty of emotional moments, including hugs with his wife Kylie, parents Ed and Donna, and younger brother Travis – the Kansas City Chiefs’ star tight end who just won his second Super Bowl.
“We have a small family. No cousins. One aunt and one uncle. It was really my brother and I our whole lives. We did almost everything together,” Kelce said about his relationship with Travis, struggling to compose himself. “There is no chance I’d be here without the bond that Travis and I share. It had made me stronger, tougher, smarter and taught me the values of cooperation, loyalty and understanding.”
Travis, seated alongside his parents, broke down in tears watching his older brother’s poignant words.
Eagles Losing an Iconic Leader
While the tender family moments provided some light, there is no downplaying just how significant of a loss Kelce’s retirement is for the Eagles from a football standpoint. Widely considered the catalyst and “glue guy” of one of the NFL’s most dominant offensive lines, replacing his production and leadership won’t be easy.
“He’s been a great player for a long time in this league and one of the rulers if you will of the Philadelphia franchise and fan base,” said former Eagles teammate and current Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton. “The tape doesn’t lie. He’s as good as anyone I’ve been around.”
The challenge of filling Kelce’s sizeable shoes falls upon Eagles executive Howie Roseman and the team’s scouting department. In typical “Philly Special” fashion, Roseman opted against a sentimental goodbye and instead shook Kelce’s hand firmly after the center’s speech – a nod to the team’s hard-nosed mentality of moving forward.
No matter who ends up taking over at center, it is unlikely they will be able to match the kind of impact, both on the field and in the locker room, that Kelce made over his 13 years. He was the driving force and heartbeat of playoff teams, a player who maximized his talents through hard work and intelligence.
The Eagles plan to honor Kelce’s incredible legacy by retiring his No. 62 jersey according to reports. It’s a fitting tribute to an all-time great who left everything he had on the field for the franchise in one of pro football’s most tough markets.
In making the decision to retire, Kelce is sacrificing at least $9 million that the Eagles were offering to keep him in midnight green. However, money appears to be no object for a guy who made over $70 million in his career and who has his sights set on more important priorities at this stage of his life.
“She has also given me three beautiful girls in a life that increasingly brings me more fulfilment off the field than it does on,” Kelce said about his wife Kylie. “We’ve had a great run, Ky.”
While his playing days are over, it seems unlikely that Eagles fans have seen the last of the charismatic Kelce entertaining them. Just as he did so memorably as a player, he will find a way to leave his imprint as he moves into the next phase of his life after football.
