Jason Kelce, center for the Philadelphia Eagles, has announced his retirement

Courtesy: Staff Photographer

Philadelphia — After thirteen seasons in the NFL, center Jason Kelce of the Philadelphia Eagles has formally retired.

In the presence of his parents, Ed and Donna, as well as his brother, Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs, Kelce conducted a touching 45-minute press conference on Monday at the NovaCare Complex in South Philadelphia.

The 36-year-old broke down in tears the second she put on her sleeveless Eagles T-shirt.

“We’ll see how much time passes,” Kelce remarks.

At his emotional press conference, Kelce paid tribute to the people who had a role in h

is remarkable rise to fame, both in Philadelphia and throughout his life, and reminisced about his legendary tenure with the Eagles.

Kelce has won a Super Bowl, released two holiday songs, and played with the Eagles for thirteen seasons.

Playing my entire career in a single city has always been my dream. The one that Kelce described as “a perfect fit” was the best he had ever imagined. I am excited for the unknown future that lies ahead, filled with fresh challenges and possibilities. I will always remember the things I learned here, and I will always remember that being a Philadelphian is a bond that will last a lifetime.

In the 2011 NFL Draft, Philadelphia selected Kelce, a University of Cincinnati product, in the sixth round. From Andy Reid to Chip Kelly to Doug Pederson and Nick Sirianni, he was a member of four different head coaching staffs.

Kelce was a seven-time Pro Bowl selection and a six-time All-Pro. It was 2023 for him.

Okay, I’ll confess it: I inflated my own importance. Very exaggerated, Kelce remarked. However, I must admit that I worked quite hard and was very determined to get here. When I say I wish I were still the underdog, I mean it; I’ve been that way throughout my whole career. I found great satisfaction in demonstrating someone was incorrect. ‘If you want Jason to do anything, all you have to do is tell him he can’t,’ my mom would say, and she still says it now.

That was accurate in more respects than I’d like to acknowledge. I love skeptics; they ignited a passion inside me.

In 2029, Kelce will have met the eligibility requirements to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie released a long statement on X that expressed the indescribable impact that Jason Kelce had on the team, the city of Philadelphia, and the fans. He devoted thirteen years of his life to helping us out. And he did it with an honesty that belied his years. An outstanding football player, Jason will go down in history as a Hall of Famer who could have thrived in any sport. However, has a player, a city, and a team ever been more harmoniously united?

A social media post by the esteemed Eagles offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland expressed gratitude to Kelce.

My name is Jason. Working with you over the last eleven seasons as a coach has been one of my most rewarding experiences to date. You have worked so hard to become the player you are, and I am incredibly proud of your legacy. Having you here with me will be missed. It’s been a privilege, and I want to extend my congratulations on your remarkable career. On X, Stoutland made a post.

Speaking at the parade for Super Bowl LII, Kelce

Off the field as much as on it, Kelce has become a Philadelphia legend. He made the city his second home and gave a legendary statement during the Eagles’ Super Bowl parade in 2018 that will go down in sports lore.

The historic speech, the 36-year-old said Monday, wasn’t even his. He claimed it belonged to Philadelphia.

The significance of the procession to Philadelphia will stay with me forever. The relief it provided to many and the happiness it brought to our town. According to Kelce, the accounts of the supporters who had been waiting for that moment for generations “took that triumph to another level.”

As we traveled, I met a woman carrying the ashes of a loved one who had vowed to attend the procession if the Eagles were victorious. The speech had already been penned, and it represented our collective experience as a team and a city. I didn’t deliver that speech. It belonged to Philadelphia.

Watch on YouTube: Reaction to Jason Kelce’s emotional retirement from the NFL | NFL Live

At his press conference, Kelce thanked his parents, high school band teacher, Reid, Sirianni, Stoutland, and everyone else who had a role in his rise to the NFL Hall of Fame.

Other topics covered by Kelce included his brother’s influence in his life and playing in the “most passionate sports town in America.”

“It’s only poetic that I found my career being fulfilled in the City of Brotherly Love,” remarked Kelce. “I knew that relationship all too well.”

Kelce continued by outlining the requirements for a Philadelphia Eagles athlete to be successful there.

“This city isn’t easy for everyone. “The boos, the media, and our fans are too much for them,” Kelce remarked. Playing in the most sports-crazed community in the United States is an incredible honor. The city’s intense desire to win has motivated our organization to seize opportunities, resolve issues, and work relentlessly toward victory.