An emotional Jason Kelce announced his retirement from the Philadelphia Eagles after 13 years.
The center, who made six postseason appearances and two Super Bowl trips, made the announcement Monday after much speculation since the end of the season, ESPN reported.
“I’ve been asked many times why did I choose football — what drew me to the game — and I never have an answer that gets it right,” Kelce said, per the outlet. “The best way I could explain it is what draws you to your favorite song … your favorite book. It’s what it makes you feel. The seriousness of it. The intensity of it.
“Stepping on the field was the most alive and free I had ever felt. There was a visceral feeling with football, unlike any sport. The hairs on my arms would stand up. I could hit somebody, run around like a crazed lunatic and then get told, ‘Good job.’ I love football.”
Kelce, 36, was drafted by the Eagles in 2011. He played his entire career in Philadelphia.
Speculation was mounting over the past few years.
“According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, he told teammates his playing days were over after the wild-card loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneersin January,” the outlet reported.
“If it was his last game, he was one of the best teammates I’ve ever had,” right tackle Lane Johnson said then. “A guy whose passion is unmatched. A guy who I saw Philly try to run him out of town. I saw a guy emerge from that and become the best center maybe that’s ever played.”
“Kelce is the fifth center in NFL history with at least six All-Pro selections,” according to ESPN. “The other four — Jim Otto, Bulldog Turner, Dermontti Dawson and Jim Ringo — are all in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.”
Cam Jurgens is primed to be Kelce’s replacement. He was selected in the second round of the 2022 draft. Right after that selection was made, Kelce called Jurgens “my favorite player in the draft.”
Kelve and his brother, Travis Kelce, battled each other in Super Bowl LVII when the Eagles lost to the Kansas City Chiefs.
The brothers have a podcast, “New Heights.”
