Jason Kelce announces retirement from NFL after 13 glorious years

There has been one question that has been on the minds of football fans in the city of Philadelphia since the team’s loss in the Wild Card Round. Will Jason Kelce return to the team next season or have fans seen the last of him? The question has now been answered.

The center has announced he will be hanging up his cleats after 13 seasons of playing for the Eagles. He announced his decision at a press conference wherein his brother Travis Kelce and wife Kylie Kelce were present, along with his children.

Fans saw this announcement coming as soon as he put up a tweet informing them about the press conference he had scheduled. What a career it has been for Kelce, the sixth-round pick of the 2011 NFL Draft walks away from the game as a Super Bowl champion, a seven-time Pro Bowler, and as one of the greatest players at his position. From the first game of the 2023 season, there was an impending sense amongst the team’s fanbase and within the locker room that this was probably the final season of Jason Kelce.

Following their painful loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the Wild card round, Kelce was overwhelmed with emotions. As he walked off the field, it was evident that this loss hurt him more than it did the other players because he did not envision his final season going down this way. His career will be hard to replicate, as Kelce will go down as the most consistent and reliable player in history.

Jason Kelce’s legacy extends beyond the game of football

He has made 156 consecutive starts throughout his career, a franchise record. He eclipsed Jon Runyan’s record of 144 regular season starts set over 8 years. The center epitomizes loyalty as he has spent all 13 seasons with the team that drafted him. His resume is capped off with six selections to the 1st-team All-Pro. With this, he is a lock to be a Hall of Famer shortly.

More than football, Jason Kelce will forever be remembered by the city of Philadelphia as a role model. He set the example for a model athlete. Kelce has consistently given back to the community. He recently took part in a 5K run to raise money for autism. The 36-year-old has closely worked with the Eagles Autism Foundation and has contributed immensely to the organization by devoting his time and resources to offer a better life for those with autism.

He has his charitable foundation, the Be Philly Foundation that involves itself in providing financial support and helps other charitable organizations that work to provide better education and improve the economic situations of students in Philadelphia public schools.

In the locker room, Jason Kelce has been the best teammate and leader. He is respected by veterans and youngsters, his squad is willing to go to any lengths to back him, and his leadership and ability to motivate the offense before games have earned him the reputation of the ideal veteran. He will be missed from the game, the Philadelphia Eagles will not be the same without Jason Kelce, and without a doubt the team will struggle to bring in a player who can fill the void created by his departure.

In any case, it will be exciting to look forward to what the future holds for Jason Kelce. It would not be surprising to see him try his hand at broadcasting, as he has the personality for it. He will continue to be in touch with fans through the New Heights podcast that he hosts with his brother Travis Kelce, and his charitable endeavors will continue to help thousands.

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