Despite wanting to return for yet another season, Jason Kelce was forced to retire for a specific reason

Jason Kelce was no longer happy with playing football at the highest intensity.

Despite wanting to return for yet another season, Jason Kelce was forced to retire for a specific reason

Jason Kelce (via IMAGO)

Jason Kelce‘s retirement earlier in the off-season was not entirely unexpected but it did leave fans curious because if there was one thing that was common knowledge, it was that he could have played at least one more year and that he still has some gas in his tank.

In his recent interview with People Magazine, Jason Kelce revealed that while he took the decision to retire this off-season, it was a thought that had continued to remain in his head for the past few years. His 13-year-stint with the Philadelphia Eagles was legendary and despite his desire to want to go on, physically, his body was just not giving him the support that it once did.

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Kelce revealed that while he understood for a fact that he still had enough gas in the tank left to make yet another run, the mere thought of going through it all just did not sit well with him.

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I'll be very honest, the last four years I've wanted to retire at the end of seasons. The reality is it's really hard to get there. And even after we lost the Super Bowl, I wanted to come back and play for another Super Bowl. But imagining another 17 games on top of playoffs and coming back was very difficult to envision being able to do.
Jason Kelce said

The toll that the entire procedure takes on an athlete’s body and mind is often understated.

Jason Kelce was no longer happy with playing football at an elite level

The game that once brought him joy and one that he looked forward to playing was not fun anymore. Kelce could not fathom going through the entire process and being locked in as he is accustomed to being without feeling an element of fatigue.

Jason Kelce
Jason Kelce (Via IMAGO)

He went on to express his exhausted mindset in the same interview. He felt that he couldn’t enjoy competing with the highest intensity for another season.

Those previous three years, I felt like I still had it in me and still wanted to and still could play at the level I felt I wanted to be able to play at and go out there and compete. And after stepping away this year, it was just more and more evident after the season that my body is telling me to stop. I don't think I could play another season at the way I want to and the way that's going to make me happy.
Jason Kelce said

Kelce’s body had reached a point where after the many injuries and medication he had subjected himself to, he could no longer perform physically as he had wanted to. His body was sending him a clear message, that it was time.

Although Jason Kelce’s career as a football player is done, the future is still bright for him. His charming and entertaining personality has earned him multiple opportunities in broadcasting and the world of media. After signing a deal with ESPN to feature on the network, he joined hands with brother Travis to ink an ownership deal with Garage Beer, and now, he is set to star in a brand new ad with Vance Wilfork for Kingsford.

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