Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce reportedly played his final game Monday night and is expected to announce his retirement from the NFL after 13 seasons.
If the reports are accurate, Jason Kelce has the credentials to be a first-ballot inductee into the Pro Football Hall of Fame when he becomes eligible in 2029.
Along with being a perennial All-Pro and Pro Bowl invitee, Jason Kelce played in two Super Bowls, winning one Lombardi Trophy against his younger brother, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce.
Jason Kelce, a former sixth-round draft pick, will go down as one of the greatest centers in NFL history. But where does he rank among the best at his position?
Below is our top 10 ranking, listed in reverse order. And yes, Jason Kelce made the list.
10. Kevin Mawae (1994-2009)
TEAMS: Seattle Seahawks, New York Jets, Tennessee Titans
HONORS: 8 Pro Bowls, 3-time first-team All-Pro, Pro Football Hall of Fame
Mawae, who anchored the Jets’ offensive line for eight seasons, was named to the NFL’s all-decade team for the 2000s.
9. Jim Ringo (1953-67)
TEAMS: Green Bay Packers, Philadelphia Eagles
HONORS: 10 Pro Bowls, 6-time first-team All-Pro, 2-time NFL champion, Pro Football Hall of Fame
Ringo was a mainstay in the middle of Vince Lombardi’s dominant Packers’ offensive line, and he was named to the Hall of Fame’s all-decade team for the 1960s.
8. Clyde “Bulldog” Turner (1940-52)
TEAMS: Chicago Bears
HONORS: 4 Pro Bowls, 7-time first-team All-Pro, 4-time NFL champion, Pro Football Hall of Fame
Turner was a star two-way player for the Bears, playing both center and linebacker. He even intercepted eight passes in 1942. Turner was named to the Hall of Fame’s all-decade team for the 1940s.
7. Dermontti Dawson (1988-2000)
TEAMS: Pittsburgh Steelers
HONORS: 7 Pro Bowls, 6-time first-team All-Pro, Pro Football Hall of Fame
Dawson played right guard his first season before being moved to center the following year. The rest was history as Dawson solidified the interior of the Steelers’ offensive line and was named to the all-decade team for the 1990s.
6. Mel Hein (1931-45)
TEAMS: New York Giants
HONORS: 4 Pro Bowls, 5-time first-team All-Pro, 2-time NFL champion, 1938 NFL MVP, Pro Football Hall of Fame
Hein was so good that he won what was called the Joe F. Carr Trophy as the NFL MVP in 1938. He was among the first class of inductees into the Pro Football Hall of Fame and was also named to the NFL’s 75th and 100th anniversary all-time teams.
5. Jason Kelce (2011-23)
TEAMS: Philadelphia Eagles
HONORS: 7 Pro Bowls, 6-time first-team All Pro, 1 Super Bowl title
Kelce established himself as the best center of the past decade, a run that included one Super Bowl title, and he started an Eagles’ franchise-record 157 consecutive games.
4. Mike Webster (1974-90)
TEAMS: Pittsburgh Steelers, Kansas City Chiefs
HONORS: 9 Pro Bowls, 5-time first-team All Pro, 4-time Super Bowl champion, Pro Football Hall of Fame
“Iron Mike” anchored the Steelers’ offensive line during their run of four Super Bowl titles and was named to two all-decade teams, for the 1970s and the 1980s.
3. Dwight Stephenson (1980-87)
TEAMS: Miami Dolphins
HONORS: 5 Pro Bowls, 4-time first-team All-Pro, Walter Payton Man of the Year, Pro Football Hall of Fame
Stephenson only played eight seasons, but he made a tremendous impact for the Dolphins, helping them to one Super Bowl appearance. Due to his all-around excellence, Pro Football Focus named an award after him — the Dwight Stephenson Award — given to the NFL’s best overall player each season.
2. Chuck Bednarik (1949-62)
TEAMS: Philadelphia Eagles
HONORS: 8 Pro Bowls, 6-time first-team All-Pro, 2-time NFL champion, Pro Football Hall of Fame
Bednarik is arguably the greatest two-way player in NFL history as a standout at both center and linebacker. He was named to the all-decade team of the 1950s.
1. Jim Otto (1960-74)
TEAMS: Oakland Raiders
HONORS: 12 Pro Bowls, 10-time first-team All-Pro, AFL champion, Pro Football Hall of Fame
Otto is the standard at the position, a fixture on the Raiders’ offensive line who started 210 consecutive games, never missing a game due to injury.