Jason Kelce Shares His Biggest Fear While Contemplating Retirement
Jason Kelce
Jason Kelce is opening up about what the future ahead of him might hold.
After ending the 13th season of his NFL career, the 36-year-old Philadelphia Eagles center has been the subject of mounting speculation that retirement might soon be on the horizon for him, an idea that he admits can be very "daunting."
Jason spoke candidly about some of his fears for what his life after football may look like while making an appearance on the Green Light podcast, a sports and culture podcast from Yote House Media hosted by Jason's former Eagles teammate, Chris Long.
Admitting that it's "exciting to think about possibilities" for what his future might bring, Jason looked forward to being "able to lose weight, feel good and not have to physically fight for my life every day," once he's done training as a pro football player. However, he confessed, "It's also daunting. It's anxiety. At the end of the day, it's the unknown."
"All of us were fortunate, we can go in a lot of different areas," he continued. "But that is also very nerve-wracking, you don't know what you are going to like until you are doing it. You don't know what you are going get fulfillment in until you are doing it, you don't know what you are going to be great at until you are doing it."
Jason already has plenty going on in his life off the field, including his family life with wife Kylie Kelce and their three children: Wyatt, 4, Elliotte, 2 and Bennett, 11 months. He also hosts the New Heights podcast with younger brother Travis Kelce and has lately been enjoying his time off from playing by supporting the Travis and Chiefs on the road to the Super Bowl.
But still, Jason insisted, retirement is a challenge that all athletes have to face at some point or another, and he is already cautious about what the adjustment could do to his mental health.
"All that stuff is also in the back of your head. No matter how you handle it, no matter who you are, how well prepared you are to enter the next stage, everybody goes through a level of depression, really."
"The end of one of the things you love most in your life is there and you are going to have to come to grips with that," he added. "You might be struggling and you don't know it. I feel like you might be struggling in football but you get that win, that little shot, dopamine, like 'I got it.' I'm a big 'hit' guy."
But despite his uncertainty about the future, Jason said he's doing his best "not to let that impact" his decision on whether he will continue to play or not next season.
But while he mulls over the big decision he has to make, Jason will be busy cheering on Travis at the upcoming game on Sunday, Feb. 11, where the Chiefs will take on the San Fransisco 49ers to fight for this year's Super Bowl title.
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