Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce has officially retired from the NFL after 13 seasons. Kelce held an emotional, 45-minute press conference at the NovaCare Complex in South Philadelphia, with his parents, Ed and Donna, and brother, Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs, in attendance. He recounted his storied career with the Eagles, winning a Super Bowl and releasing two Christmas albums. Kelce was drafted in the sixth round of the 2011 NFL draft out of the University of Cincinnati and played for four head coaches: Andy Reid, Chip Kelly, Doug Pederson, and Nick Sirianni. In his career, Kelce was named to seven Pro Bowls and named an All-Pro six times, both in 2023.
Kelce admits to being officially overrated, but he believes it took hard work and determination to get here. He has been the underdog his entire career and enjoys proving someone wrong. Kelce has become a legend in Philadelphia, both on and off the field. He adopted the city as his second home, and his 2018 rant during the Eagles’ Super Bowl parade will forever be remembered as one of the most memorable speeches in sports history. Kelce spoke eloquently about the city’s desire for the Eagles to win and the fan’s passion for their team.
He called playing in Philadelphia a “great blessing to play in the most passionate sports town in America.” He explained the importance of being accountable in Philadelphia and the rewarding feeling of persevering through low points to win the fan’s trust. Kelce called out head coach Andy Reid for taking a chance on him in the sixth round of the NFL Draft and his brother Travis, who was in attendance and also in tears at the press conference.