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Jason Kelce Tearfully Announces Retirement From Philadelphia Eagles
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Jason Kelce teared up on Monday as he announced he is retiring from the Philadelphia Eagles.
“No Keg videos this year, I have come to a decision and will address it at a press conference this afternoon,” the All-Pro Eagles center tweeted Monday morning, referencing a joke video the team posted after last season in which Kelce drank a beer and said he would retire from hosting a local radio show, not football.
At the press conference, Kelce had to take several deep breaths to collect himself, tearing up as he put his head in his hands, before pushing through his prepared remarks, opening with an anecdote about playing football at 12 years old.
Stepping on the field was the most alive and free I had ever felt, he said, describing what drew him to the game. I could hit somebody, run around like a crazed lunatic, and then get told, ‘good job’.
He went on to thank his coaches and other mentors from his school days, before he was picked up in the sixth round of the 2011 NFL Draft by the Eagles, where he spent his entire professional career.
Thirteen seasons in Philadelphia, and I look back on a career filled with ups and downs, Kelce said, thanking coaches, teammates and supporters who impacted his career, and acknowledging that the last season truly sucked. Throughout his statement, Kelce had to pause periodically to fight back his tears.
He also said he won’t forget falling short to the [Kansas City] Chiefs, where his younger brother, Travis Kelce, plays tight end, and described his pride in his brother’s achievements.
There is no chance I would be here without the bond Travis and I share, he said.
Kelce, 36, won one Super Bowl with the Eagles in 2018, and has been selected seven times in his 13-year career for the NFL Pro Bowl.
In recent months, Kelce has been vocal about the possibility of retiring soon, but told the Philadelphia Inquirer in January that he would still like to stay connected to the Eagles even when he leaves the field.
I dont know whats going to happen for me, but I do know I still want to be involved in the organization and still want to be a part of it — regardless of what the decision is,” he told the newspaper. “Because I dont want to ever feel like Im on the outside looking in on these achievements and these accolades and these opportunities that largely represent entire cities and fan bases and organizations.”
No one celebrates their own like the City of Philadelphia, Kelce said, expressing gratitude to the City of Brotherly Love and Philly sports fans, even when they let you know you’re not performing well.
If you go above and beyond in this city, you will be rewarded beyond your wildest dreams, he said.
TMX contributed to this article.
