Monday afternoon saw the Philadelphia Eagles’ center, Jason Kelce, making an announcement that many had been anticipating with a heavy heart. After an illustrious 13-year career in the NFL, the seven-time Pro Bowl selection revealed his decision to retire from the sport.
Following Kelce’s announcement, the sports world showered the six-time First Team All-Pro with praise for his significant impact on the game and the city of Philadelphia. During Monday’s edition of “Speak” on FS1, former teammate LeSean McCoy took a moment to reminisce about Kelce’s remarkable career and their shared time on the field.
McCoy painted a vivid picture of Kelce’s influence, stating, “Imagine a lineman, a center … with people wearing his jersey. Most people don’t know what linemen look like. That’s how big he is in Philadelphia. The type of player he is embodies what Philadelphia stands for. You talk about brotherly love. He loves all his teammates. You see it in his speeches, his interviews, always speaking highly about his teammates, right?”
In his press conference announcing his retirement, Kelce paid tribute to McCoy, recalling their memorable game against the Detroit Lions in December 2013, famously dubbed the “Blizzard Bowl.”
Reflecting on that snowy spectacle, Kelce reminisced, “The second half was all about LeSean McCoy. He somehow found a way to cut on a dime, and man, it was incredible to watch. It was probably the most fun game of football I’ve ever been in. It felt like we were all kids again that day.”
During that game, McCoy delivered a stellar performance, rushing for a franchise-best 217 yards and scoring two touchdowns, solidifying his status as the Eagles’ all-time leading rusher after the 2014 season. It was in 2011 when McCoy set another franchise record by rushing for 17 touchdowns, with Kelce, then a rookie, as his center.
On “Speak,” McCoy shared a personal anecdote about Kelce’s journey, recalling his initial skepticism when Kelce was drafted in the sixth round of the 2011 Draft.
“After the third round, I stop asking who’s drafted. We had a guy named Jamal Jackson who was a starter for so many years. He did really well. Kelce was there to replace him, kinda. So I remember Andy Reid drafted him … I said ‘Big Red who the hell is this little white dude at center? He’s my height and my size, what are we doing with him?’ And he said ‘Trust me. Do I make mistakes?’ Fast-forward, we get the kid. He’s a rookie … he’s playing and I remember the first practices, they were shaky. After, he got better and better and better. I start seeing drastic changes. So I go back to Coach Reid and was like, ‘Hey, you was right’ We need him.’ And in all my special plays I’m either going behind Jason Peters or Jason Kelce. That’s how good Kelce was and, since then, I’ve never seen a center as good as him since I left Philadelphia. So, enjoy your retirement brother. I’ll be calling you.”
Kelce dedicated his entire 13-year career to the Eagles, aiding the team in two Super Bowl appearances and clinching victory in Super Bowl LII in 2017.
During the show, McCoy also lauded Kelce’s resilience in playing through injuries or surgeries, highlighting his remarkable performance in the 2023 season when Kelce started all 17 games as a center, setting a new franchise record for consecutive regular-season starts (156). This feat also marked the longest streak by an NFL center since Casey Wiegmann from 2001-11 (175).
“I’m so happy for this dude,” McCoy said. “Kelce should be the type of player who they need a statue outside the stadium as he stands for what the Philadelphia Eagles are all about.”
