Jason Kelce Reportedly Makes Major Career Announcement After Eagles Loss
The Philadelphia Eagles' once-promising season came to an unceremonious end after losing to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during Monday night's wild-card playoff game. Considering that the Eagles started the season with a 11–1 record as the best team in the league—only to lose five out of six of the team's final regular season games and ultimately be felled by the 9–8 Buccaneers—the 32–9 loss was a bitter pill to swallow for fans. And apparently, it was also the last straw for star center Jason Kelce.
According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Kelce, who was seen tearing up on the sideline in the final moments of the game, told teammates in the postgame locker room that he plans to retire now that the season is officially over.
Six-time All-Pro and future Hall-of-Fame center Jason Kelce told his Eagles’ teammates in Monday night’s postgame locker room that he is in fact retiring, per league sources.
The 36-year-old Kelce became visibly emotional at the end of the Eagles’ 32-9 loss to the Buccaneers. He… pic.twitter.com/GofAAlFtUd— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 16, 2024
Should Kelce indeed be retiring, it shouldn't come as a huge surprise. After the Eagles made it all the way to the Super Bowl in 2023—at which point they were defeated by Kelce's brother, Travis Kelce and the Kansas City Chiefs—the 36-year-old had likewise considered retirement. However, in March of that year he announced on Twitter, now X, that he had decided to play another season.
"I have put much thought into whether it makes sense to play another season," he wrote at the time. "After talking it over with my wife and many other friends and family, I have decided to return for another year. Thank you to all my supporters and detractors for fueling me, I ain’t f--king done yet!"
I have put much thought into whether it makes sense to play another season. After talking it over with my wife and many other friends and family, I have decided to return for another year. Thank you to all my supporters and detractors for fueling me, I ain’t fucking done yet!
— Jason Kelce (@JasonKelce) March 13, 2023
If this really is the disappointing end to Kelce's NFL career, he will go down as one of the best centers of all time. In his 13 seasons with the league, he was named a Pro Bowler seven times and likewise earned All-Pro honors five times, in addition to one Super Bowl championship with the birds in 2018.
However, the loss also leaves the future of head coach Nick Sirianni hanging in the balance. Despite making it to the playoffs in each of his three seasons with the Eagles, even the games in this season's early winning streak were hard-won. As such, it wouldn't be a shocking turn of events for owner Jeffrey Lurie to want a fresh start heading into next season.
When asked about the future of his career, Sirianni told reporters: "I'm not thinking about that, I'm not worried about me. My heart feels for these guys and that's where my mind is."
