Jason Kelce Breaks Silence on Retirement Rumors
By Jovan Alford
After the Philadelphia Eagles lost Monday night to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, there was a growing sense that it was the final game for future Hall of Fame center Jason Kelce.
Kelce looked emotional on the sidelines as the last seconds in the fourth quarter ticked down in Tampa. Then ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported on Tuesday that Kelce told his teammates that he was retiring and considered retirement after other recent seasons.
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.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 16, 2024
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
However, it doesn’t appear that’s the case yet for the six-time All-Pro offensive line who spoke about the retirement rumors on the latest episode of the New Heights Podcast.
Eagles News: Jason Kelce Will Make Announcement When Time Is Right
Jason said to his brother Travis on this week’s edition of the podcast about retirement, “I didn’t announce what I was doing on purpose, despite I guess what’s been leaked to the media. “But I think there’s a lot of people can kind of feel the body language and stuff.”
“I just don’t think you’re in a position after a game like that to really make that decision. I just don’t. There’s too much emotion in the moment, there’s too much going down in the moment to really fully grasp that decision, Kelce continued (h/t Dave Zangaro of NBC Sports Philadelphia).
Jason Kelce addressed his future on the latest @newheightshow and got a bit emotional as he did it. Because of that, I'd suggest listening to it for yourself but here's his full answer on the subject: pic.twitter.com/8wfYKuLc7R
— Dave Zangaro (@DZangaroNBCS) January 17, 2024
There was more Kelce said about the rumors, including what he said to his teammates after the game. The All-Pro offensive lineman got emotional reflecting on that moment and mentioned that when it’s time for him to officially make that announcement, “it’ll be done in a way that’s definitive and pays respect to a lot of people and individuals that have meant a lot to me.”
When the time is right, you'll hear from the man himself
— New Heights (@newheightshow) January 17, 2024
New episode premieres NOW: https://t.co/lxUrkMbzk6 pic.twitter.com/fdxfOPETlU
It’s not the first time we’ve seen Schefter jump the gun on a player’s retirement, as he did the same thing to Tom Brady. However, as Kelce eloquently stated on the pod, when he decides to hang up his cleats – he will do it his way, which you must respect.
Nevertheless, whether the 36-year-old center retires this offseason or next offseason – he will leave behind a legacy in Eagles’ football that will not be matched. Kelce has had a storied professional career that began as a sixth-round pick in the 2011 NFL Draft. The Cleveland Heights, OH, native will go down as one of the best centers/offensive linemen to play football and be mentioned as one of the greatest Eagles of all time.
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