Jason Kelce has decided to end his career.
During an emotional and sorrowful press conference on Monday, the veteran center for the Philadelphia Eagles, who has played for the team for 13 seasons, announced his retirement from the NFL.
“It takes a lot of perseverance and hard effort to get here. Throughout my entire career, I have been the underdog, and I sincerely hope that I still am,” Kelce remarked.
Frequently pausing to allow his emotions to subside, Kelce related stories from his days playing youth football, his time in college, and his time with the Eagles.
In addition, he thanked Eagles supporters for enabling him to represent the city.
The 36-year-old Kelce revealed in a post on X earlier on Monday that he had made a decision regarding his playing career.
He wrote, “I have made a decision and will address it at a press conference this afternoon. No Keg videos this year.”
Kelce was alluding to the March 2022 video in which he filled a cup with beer from a keg to announce his one-year comeback to the Eagles.
Jason was selected by the Eagles in the sixth round (No. 191 overall) of the 2011 NFL Draft out of Cincinnati. He has seven Pro Bowl appearances and six All-Pro accolades to his credit.
In February 2023, he helped Philadelphia make it to the Super Bowl after winning Super Bowl LII with the Eagles in 2018 and losing to Travis and the Chiefs 38-35 in Glendale, Arizona.
With 157 straight starts, Kelce owns the franchise record. He hasn’t missed a game since 2014.
Travis, the standout tight end for the Chiefs and brother of Kelce, sobbed while watching the press conference from the front row.
Following the completion of his about 45-minute diatribe, Kelce gave Travis, his parents Donna and Ed, and his wife Kylie a kiss.
The father of three spent time in Philadelphia with Travis before the announcement.
Following the death of 38-year-old Brendan McDermott from colorectal cancer on May 31, the brothers met with firefighters and other first responders at a fundraiser to collect money for cancer survivors.
Following the Philadelphia Eagles’ devastating 32-9 loss to the Buccaneers in the wild-card round of the playoffs in January, and his startling first-round playoff elimination, Kelce—who played on a one-year deal in 2023 and could have become a free agency next week—became the center of retirement rumors.
Following the death of 38-year-old Brendan McDermott from colorectal cancer on May 31, the brothers met with firefighters and other first responders at a fundraiser to collect money for cancer survivors.
Following the Philadelphia Eagles’ devastating 32-9 loss to the Buccaneers in the wild-card round of the playoffs in January, and his startling first-round playoff elimination, Kelce—who played on a one-year deal in 2023 and could have become a free agency next week—became the center of retirement rumors.
During the Super Bowl celebrations in Las Vegas last month, Travis offered his thoughts on his brother’s future. On February 11, Kansas City defeated the San Francisco 49ers 25–22 to win the championship again.
He said to 11-year-old reporter Jeremiah Fennell, “I’ll tell you what, I think it’s still up in the air whether or not he’s going to play football.”
Travis said, “I think he’s got some football left in him,” in response to the question of whether his older brother would participate in the Eagles’ international game in Brazil the following season.
