The general expectation is that Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce is retiring, especially after seeing his body language following his team’s Wild Card Round loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
However, Kelce has not announced anything yet, and while speaking on his New Heights podcast with his brother, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, this week, he said he is intentionally withholding his decision.
“I didn’t announce what I was doing on purpose, despite I guess what’s been leaked to the media,” Kelce said (via Dave Zangaro of NBC Sports Philadelphia). “But, I think there’s a lot of people can kind of feel 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 added that he is “not trying to be dramatic” and that he is not trying to draw anything out.
“But in the future there will be something said, I guess,” he said. “But I did address the team and pretty much said the same thing I just said to you. I got belief in every single one of you guys. Cherish the moments you have in this league.”
The 36-year-old has spent his entire 13-year career with the Eagles and is widely regarded as one of the best centers in NFL history.
Kelce has made seven trips to the Pro Bowl while also earning six First-Team All-Pro selections. Most importantly, he helped lead Philadelphia to its first ever Super Bowl championship during the 2017-18 campaign.
If Kelce does end up retiring (and it seems like he will), Philly will not only miss his dominant skills along the offensive line, but also his presence in the locker room.
The Eagles went 11-6 this year, losing five of their last six regular-season games before bowing out to the Buccaneers in their first playoff matchup.
If this is indeed the end of the road for Jason Kelce, it certainly was a disappointing way to go out.
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