PHILADELPHIA -- Jason Kelce, a six-time All-Pro center, has decided to retire after a 13-year NFL career. The future Hall of Fame center played his entire career with the Philadelphia Eagles after being taken in the sixth round of the 2011 NFL Draft.
"I'm retiring from the NFL after 13 seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles," an emotional Kelce said as he couldn't hold back the tears at the NovaCare Complex Monday. "Today I must admit -- I am officially overrated. Vasty overrated. But f---, it took a lot of hard work and a lot of determination getting here.
"I have been the underdog my entire career, and I mean this while I say it, I wish I still was."
Kelce was joined by brother Travis, mom Donna, father Ed, and wife Kylie -- all of whom sat in the front row. Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni, offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland, agent Jason Bernstein and other current and former teammates were also in attendance.
Once Kelce said "that's all I got" he immediately went down and hugged Travis and his family before heading up the auditorium ramp at the NovaCare Complex to embrace Sirianni and Stoutland.
Jason Kelce embracing his family as he retires.
— Jeff Kerr (@JeffKerrCBS) March 4, 2024
Travis Kelce, then Donna, then Ed, and finally Kylie.
Emotional moment. #Eagles pic.twitter.com/pEtLRhGgyC
In the 40-minute speech, Kelce described his days in Cleveland, being a walk-on at Cincinnati, getting drafted by the Eagles, reliving all the football memories he made. He looked over at Travis several times, as the younger Kelce brother was hiding his tears with his trademark sunglasses.
Kelce was in tears when bringing up Stoutland, as he revitalized his career after a dreadful season in 2016. Stoutland molded Kelce into a future Hall of Fame center, as Kelce earned six First Team All-Pro selections in the seven years since. Kelce has the most First Team All-Pro selections after turning 30 (six), ahead of Jerry Rice and Bruce Smith (each have five).
"He was the one person in the building who always believed in me," Kelce said fighting back the tears.
Kelce's play showed no signs of decline in 2023 as he was selected as a first-team All-Pro for the sixth time in his magnificent career this past season, becoming the only center since the merger to earn six first-team All-Pro selections and a Super Bowl title. Kelce is the fifth center in NFL history with that many All-Pro selections.
The other four (Jim Otto, Bulldog Turner, Dermotti Dawson, Jim Ringo) are in the Hall of Fame. Of the 54 players in NFL history that have earned six or more first-team All-Pro selections, all of them are in the Hall of Fame (Aaron Donald, Zack Martin and Bobby Wagner are still active).
The 2023 season was still proof Kelce is at the top of his game. He allowed just one sack and 12 pressures on the season, with a pressure rate per dropback of 1.9%. This coming off a career year in 2022, allowing zero sacks, eight pressures and a 1.3% pressure rate allowed per dropback.
As Kelce said farewell to the NFL and the Eagles, he had a message for the city of Philadelphia. He embodied the city and everything surrounding it.
"No one celebrates their own like the city of Philadelphia," Kelce said. "Athletes become demigods in this city, even ones whose deeds were decades before. The Eagles are the No. 1 ticket in town, the most talked about thing at nearly every moment. With that amount of attention, you better be ready to overcome the amount of lows that will happen and be ready to persevere in the face of criticism.
"Yes, they will let you know when you are not performing well. Every time. But they will also love you if you show effort, aggression, desire, the will to fight. They will love you in this city if you love it. The way you love your brother.
"You will be loved by going above and beyond by showing that you care, because they care. If you don't like what the fans and media are saying as a player, it's very easy. Love them, treat them like your brothers, and go out and play your balls off. Wear your heart on your sleeve and I guarantee you change those narratives."
Kelce got to retire on his own terms. He'll go down as one of the greatest players in the 91-year history of the Eagles, and one of the greatest centers of all time.
