Philadelphia Eagles star center Jason Kelce told his teammates that he is retiring after 13 NFL seasons, ESPN reported Tuesday morning.
The news comes on the heels of the Eagles’ unceremonious exit from the postseason, a 32-9 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in an NFC wild-card game on Monday night.
Kelce, 36 and a five-time All-Pro, declined to talk with reporters after the game, but Eagles offensive tackle Lane Johnson said Kelce has hinted to his teammates that this would be his last season, ESPN reported.
“I love him. He’s one of the best to ever play the game,” Johnson said. “The things he can do on the football field athletically — I don’t think we’ll see another one like him for a long time.”
“He’s special, and I love him,” Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said of Kelce. “He’s one of the most special guys I’ve been around.”
Kelce has spent his entire career with the Eagles, who selected him in the sixth round of the 2011 NFL Draft. He was a member of Philadelphia’s Super Bowl LII championship team.
The seven-time Pro Bowl selection has started all 193 games in which he has played during the regular season and all 12 in the postseason.
–Field Level Media