While the Philadelphia Eagles haven’t made a decision yet on the future of head coach Nick Sirianni and his coaching staff, the Eagles will be losing one of their leaders in the locker room with All-Pro center Jason Kelce reportedly retiring.
Kelce, a sixth-round pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, spent his entire NFL career in Philadelphia. A native of Cleveland Heights, Ohio, the 6-foot-3 center played in every Eagles’ game from 2017-’23, starting in 157 consecutive games.
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The 36-year-old and his brother, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, were in the spotlight for Super Bowl LVII, becoming the first brothers to ever play against each other in the Super Bowl. After falling short of the Lombardi Trophy last season, Kelce returned in 2023 to make one last run.
- Jason Kelce career earnings: $81.708 million
However, the Eagles’ season came to an end on Monday night with a loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. While Kelce wouldn’t address his future with reporters after the game, he did reportedly tell his teammates that it was his last game.
Is Jason Kelce retiring?
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Kelce told his teammates in the locker room after Monday’s loss that he was retiring from football. After contemplating retirement for multiple years, the future Hall of Famer is now ready to walk away.
By retiring now, Kelce will be eligible for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2029. With a Lombardi Trophy and multiple first-team All-Pro selections, the Eagles’ legend is a strong bet to be a first-ballot inductee into the PFHOF.
- Jason Kelce career accolades: 6x first-team All-Pro, 7x Pro Bowl selection, Super Bowl champion
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Where is Jason Kelce going?
Jason and Travis Kelce are expected to remain the co-hosts of the New Heights podcast in 2024. It was one of the most popular sports podcasts in 2024. Following his retirement, Jason Kelce could pursue a career in sports broadcasting. Earlier this season, he made a guest appearance in Amazon Prime’s broadcasting booth for a Thursday Night Football game.
Kelce’s retirement also allows him to spend more time with his family. He and his wife, Kylie Kelce, have three children, with their youngest daughter born in February 2023 shortly after he played in Super Bowl LVII. With his retirement, Kelce will be considered one of the best centers in NFL history.
