Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce has officially announced his retirement from the NFL after an illustrious 13-season career.
Kelce held an emotional press conference at the NovaCare Complex in South Philadelphia, accompanied by his parents, Ed and Donna, and his brother, Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs.
Wearing a sleeveless Eagles T-shirt, the 36-year-old was visibly moved to tears as he addressed the media.
“Let’s see how long this lasts,” Kelce said, his emotions palpable. During the heartfelt 45-minute conference, Kelce reminisced about his remarkable journey with the Eagles, expressing gratitude to those who supported him throughout his football career, both in Philadelphia and since his childhood.
Kelce’s tenure with the Eagles spanned 13 seasons, during which he clinched a Super Bowl victory and even ventured into the music world with the release of two Christmas albums.
“It has always been a goal of mine to play my whole career in one city. And I couldn’t have dreamt a better one and a better fit if I tried,” Kelce reflected. “I don’t know what’s next, but I look forward to the new challenges and opportunities that await. And I know that I carry with me the lessons from my time here and that forever we can all share the bond of being Philadelphians.”
Selected by Philadelphia in the sixth round of the 2011 NFL draft from the University of Cincinnati, Kelce navigated through four different head coaches during his tenure: Andy Reid, Chip Kelly, Doug Pederson, and Nick Sirianni.
Throughout his remarkable career, Kelce earned seven Pro Bowl selections and was named an All-Pro six times, including in 2023.
“I must admit, I officially overrated. Vastly overrated,” Kelce chuckled. “But it took a lot of hard work and determination getting here. I have been the underdog my entire career and I mean this when I say it, I wish I still was.
Few things gave me more joy than proving someone wrong. My mother used to tell people and still says to this day, ‘If you want Jason to do something, all you have to is tell him he can’t.’ And that was true in more ways than I care to admit. I relish doubters, they fueled a fire within.”
