As Jason Kelce announced his retirement after 13 NFL seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles, he thanked everyone who helped him reach his lofty status as one of the best centers to play the game. He tried to hold back his tears while thanking his family, friends, former coaches, and the people involved in the Eagles organization.

He specifically mentioned his brother, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, who helped him thrive as an offensive lineman. They have been together since childhood in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, in college at the University of Cincinnati and in the NFL. While they played for different teams and competed for one Super Bowl, they maintained love, respect, and support for one another.

Aside from his younger brother, he also thanked his wife, Kylie, for her support and honesty throughout her playing career. He recalled how he met her and credited her for having his best years in the NFL with her on his side.

The Eagles drafted Jason Kelce in the sixth round of the 2011 NFL Draft. Offensive line coach Howard Mudd saw him as a center like five-time Pro Bowler Jeff Saturday. He started 16 games during his rookie season but played only two games in 2012 due to ACL and MCL tears.

Since then, Kelce has missed only four more games. He played every game from 2015 to 2023. He earned seven Pro Bowls and six First-Team All-Pro selections. Kelce will retire a champion, having won Super Bowl 52 with the Eagles against the New England Patriots.

Pro Football Focus measured that Kelce allowed only one sack out of 1,108 snaps. He had an 80.2 overall grade and an impressive 86.2 mark in run blocking.

While stepping away as a player, he will remain close to the game as a podcaster in the New Heights podcast. He could also pursue a sportscasting career.

-Lance Fernandez