Philadelphia Eagles star center Jason Kelce is retiring from the National Football League.
He made the official announcement during an emotional press conference on Monday.
Allegedly, the 36-year-old first spoke to his teammates about his retirement plans in January after their 32-9 playoff loss against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
However, he chose not to make an official statement at that time, which raised the question of whether he would choose to spend one more year with the Eagles.
Now, it’s official. The seven-time Pro Bowler and six-time All-Pro selection will be bidding his team farewell at the end of 13 eventful seasons that featured a Super Bowl win in 2018.
The player who is expected to join the Pro Football Hall of Fame didn’t refrain from showing his emotions during the 40-minute news conference where he was joined by head coach Nick Sirianni and family members, especially when speaking about the way football has influenced his childhood.
He explained that he never had “an answer that gets it right” when asked what drew him to the game, adding “Stepping on the field was the most alive and free I had ever felt”.
He also spoke about the “hard work and determination” that got him there while also paying tribute to all of his ex-teammates and coaches, fans of the team, and his family.
Kelce also mentioned the iconic moment when he played against his brother Travis in Super Bowl VII for the first time, adding “There is no chance I would be here without the bond Travis and I share”.
During a statement that he gave on Monday, the team’s chief executive officer and chairman, Jeffrey Lurie, called it “difficult to put into words” when speaking about how much the now-retired player has meant to the city, fans, and organization.
Referring to Kelce as an incredible football player, Lurie added that Kelce “gave everything he had to all of us for 13 years, and he did it in a way that was truly authentic”.
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