An emotional Jason Kelce was surrounded by loved ones Monday upon announcing his NFL retirement after 13 seasons.
The longtime Eagles center, who spent the entirety of his NFL career in Philadelphia, was joined by his younger brother, Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, parents Ed and Donna Kelce and his wife, Kylie, whom he praised in his heartfelt retirement speech.
“I think it’s no coincidence I have enjoyed the best years of my career with Kylie by my side,” Jason, 36, said with tears in his eyes.
As he walked off stage, Kelce embraced his family before kissing Kylie, whom he has been married to since 2018 and shares three daughters: Wyatt, 4, Elliotte, 3, and 1-year-old Bennett.
A sixth-round pick out of Cincinnati in 2011, Kelce earned seven Pro Bowl honors and six First-team All-Pro nods during his time with the Eagles, winning his first and only Super Bowl with the team in February 2018.
Jason made what would be his final Super Bowl appearance in February 2023, when the Eagles lost to Travis’ Chiefs, 38-35.
Though the Eagles reached the playoffs again this season, the team collapsed down the stretch, losing six of its last seven games, including an embarrassing 32-9 wild-card defeat to the Buccaneers.
Rumors began swirling that Jason would retire after the game, but the father of three confirmed shortly after on his “New Heights” podcast how he would take time to weigh the decision.
“When it’s time to officially announce what’s happening in the future, it’ll be done in a way that’s definitive and pays respect to a lot of people and individuals that have meant a lot to me and what has led to the career I’ve had, and I don’t think it would be respectful or even accurate to be able to do that right after a game like that,” Kelce said in January.
Travis told Kelce at the time, “We’ll all be on the edge of our f–king seat waiting on what decision you end up making, big guy, I promise you that.”
Prior to announcing his retirement, Kelce supported Travis and the Chiefs’ 2024 Super Bowl run, cheering on Kansas City throughout the playoffs with wife Kylie and Travis’ girlfriend, Taylor Swift.