Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce tearfully announced his retirement from football on Monday, wrapping up a stellar 13-year career that brought fame and notoriety rarely enjoyed by an offensive lineman.
Crying before uttering one word to reporters gathered in front of him, Kelce eventually went off on a 40 minute tribute to family, friends, teachers, teammates, coaches and Eagles employees who had helped him along the way.
“I announce that I am retiring from the NFL after 13 seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles,” an emotional Kelce said. “Thank you, Philadelphia, from the bottom of my heart. Thank you for letting me represent this city and allowing me into your homes every Sunday.”
He ended the marathon meeting with one last note of love for his adopted City of Brotherly Love.
“Forever we shall all share the bond of being Philadelphians. That’s all I got,” he said, before leaving the podium and hugging his brother, mom, dad and then kissing his wife.
The 36-year-old Super Bowl champ, selected to his seventh Pro Bowl in January, is the older brother of Travis Kelce, an all-time great tight end with the Kansas City Chiefs who is now just as well known as Taylor Swift’s boyfriend.
That connection to the world’s most famous pop star helped make Jason Kelce one of football’s most identifiable interior linemen and hasn’t hurt his nice side hustles as a Madison Avenue pitchman and a successful podcaster.
When the Eagles were knocked out of the playoffs by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Jan.15, speculation immediately began that Kelce would hang up his cleats.
And in the weeks that followed playoff elimination, Kelce appeared hell-bent on having fun and not being down in the dumps about a difficult season’s end.
He thoroughly enjoyed the rest of January and Super Bowl Sunday on Feb. 11, partying — not always fully clothed — at the playoff games of his brother Travis.
When the Chiefs beat the Buffalo Bills in the conference semifinals on Jan. 21, Kelce’s act in the…
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