The Philadelphia Eagles’ All-Pro center, Jason Kelce, has finally decided to hang up his cleats after a stellar 13 seasons with the organization.
He informed his teammates about the decision after the Eagles’ devastating 32-9 Wild Card loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday. The 36-year-old has contemplated retiring before as well, but this time it is said to be real.
Kelce was drafted in the sixth round of the 2011 NFL Draft by the Eagles. He will retire as one of the game’s most accomplished and complete centers ever. The future Hall of Famer was selected to the All-Pro team six times and was a Pro-Bowler seven times. He appeared in two Super Bowls with the Eagles, winning one in 2017 against the New England Patriots.
However, in recent years, Kelce often thought about retiring. He came back last season to help his team win another Super Bowl and almost managed to do it, only for the Kansas City Chiefs to break their hearts. Kelce wanted to give it another shot this year, but the Eagles faltered during the later stages of the regular season, and that form carried over into the postseason.
Six-time All-Pro and future Hall-of-Fame center Jason Kelce told his Eagles’ teammates in Monday night’s postgame locker room that he is in fact retiring, per league sources.
The 36-year-old Kelce became visibly emotional at the end of the Eagles’ 32-9 loss to the Buccaneers. He… pic.twitter.com/GofAAlFtUd
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 16, 2024The All-Pro center’s retirement is not a surprise; however, he would’ve wanted to go out on top with another Super Bowl ring. Kelce, who has been selected for at least six All-Pro teams, is the fifth center in NFL history. Dermontti Dawson, Jim Otto, Bulldog Turner, and Jim Ringo are the other four who are inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
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Fans react to Jason Kelce announcing his retirement from the NFL after Eagles loss in the Wild Card game
The Philadelphia Eagles lost their Wild Card game on Monday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in blowout fashion. It was a rather one-sided affair, which the Bucs dominated en route to a 32-9 win.
After the defeat, the Eagles’ All-Pro center, Jason Kelce, announced his retirement to his teammates in the locker room.
As expected, the news instantly went viral, eliciting a plethora of reactions online. A lot of them praised Kelce for his contributions to the Eagles’ organization and called him one of the greatest centers of all time.
Others blamed HC Nick Sirianni for the Eagles’ loss and Kelce’s retirement. Sharing a wide spectrum of reactions online, here’s what fans have to say:
Hall of Famer and I'm sure Jason Kelce would do well on a Pregame Show.
— Michael Hauff (@TheFFRealist) January 16, 2024Jason Kelce wouldn’t be retiring if he didn’t see the writing on the wall in Philadelphia when it comes to organizational direction
— Anthony Cervino (@therealNFLguru) January 16, 2024Congrats on a hall of fame career 🫡
— Scott Jacobsen (@statsobsession) January 16, 2024After the last two months of Eagles football, I can't blame this guy
— MikeJY (@MikeJY1984) January 16, 2024Congrats on a great career Jason! We knew he was retiring for a couple years now! Sucks he didn't get to walk out on a high!
— Joe Vs Everybody (@LionDetroit20) January 16, 2024Kelce seems to have figured out his next career move long before his retirement on Monday. He and his brother, fellow NFL player Travis Kelce, started their podcast in 2020 and have quickly become fan favorites. A post-retirement career in podcasting or broadcasting might be the way to go for him.
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