Jason Kelce reportedly said he’s retiring from the NFL after 13 seasons following Philadelphia’s Monday loss against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFC Wild Card game.
The 36-year-old All-Pro center became noticeably emotional on the sidelines as the clock ticked down in the fourth quarter and the Eagles’ season came to an end as the Bucs secured a 32-9 victory.
After the game, Kelce reportedly told teammates that he’s walking away from the NFL, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
“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,” Schefter wrote on X.
An emotional Jason Kelce finds his family in the stands postgame 💚 pic.twitter.com/nIJxKDHpxA
— NFL (@NFL) January 16, 2024
“The 36-year-old Kelce became visibly emotional at the end of the Eagles’ 32-9 loss to the Buccaneers,” he added. “He has considered retiring after other recent seasons, but this time is said to be real and happening.”
Cameras remained on Kelce at the end of the game as he walked over to the stands and met up with his wife, Kylie Kelce, who was in the front row with his father Ed Kelce, the New York Post noted.
Veteran Eagles right tackle Lane Johnson told reporters Kelce has “hinted” to teammates that this would be his final season, according to ESPN.
“I love him. He’s one of the best to ever play the game,” Johnson said. “The things he can do on the football field athletically — I don’t think we’ll see another one like him for a long time.”
Last February, Kelce’s future in the league seemed up in the air after the Eagles’ trip to the Super Bowl ended when his brother Travis Kelce and the Kansas City Chiefs came away with the 38-35 victory. After the game, speculation surfaced about whether the Eagles star was done or would return for another shot at the championship ring.
In March, Kelce made clear he would “return for another year after talking it over with my wife and many other friends and family.”
“I have put much thought into whether it makes sense to play another season…,” Kelce wrote on X. “Thank you to all my supporters and detractors for fueling me, I ain’t f***ing done yet!”
Kelce was picked in the sixth round (No. 191 overall) by the Eagles in the 2011 NFL Draft by former Philadelphia head coach Andy Reid before Reid joined Kansas City in January 2013. The Philadelphia player helped lead the Eagles to a Super Bowl LII victory in 2018 against the New England Patriots.