It seems the Eagles are very much a part of Jason Kelce’s post-retirement plans.
The recently retired Eagles center has “been in the building almost every day” since calling it a career in March, according to Philadelphia kicker Jake Elliott.
“You see little little hints of them throughout the locker room now,” Elliott said of Kelce, 36, and newly retired defensive tackle Fletcher Cox during a recent appearance on NFL Network’s “Total Access.”
“They’ve made a huge impact that’s going to last a long time and those guys aren’t going to be far. I know Kelce’s been in the building almost every day already, so, they’re always going to be a big part of our organization.”
A former sixth-round pick out of Cincinnati in 2011, Kelce spent all 13 years of his NFL career with the Eagles, with whom he won one Super Bowl during the 2017 season.
The seven-time Pro Bowler was at the center of retirement buzz in January, when the Eagles were demolished by the Buccaneers, 32-9, in the wild-card round of the playoffs.
Shortly after the game, Kelce made it clear he wanted to take a moment to dissect everything before making a definitive decision about the future.
“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 on a January installment of the “New Heights” podcast he co-hosts with brother and Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, 34.
Two months later, Kelce announced his retirement at the Eagles’ facility, where he was joined by his family and wife Kylie.
When asked on “Total Access” if he’s had discussions with Kelce about a possible return, Elliott — who signed a four-year, $24 million extension with the Eagles in March — replied: “That’s not my deal, you can talk to Jason about that.”
Kelce will be close to the game this year — just in a very different space.
The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand reported last month that Kelce is joining the “Monday Night Football” pregame show on ESPN.
The Eagles, meanwhile, are looking ahead to 2024 after a disastrous end to the 2023 season, in which Philadelphia got off to a hot 10-1 start before collapsing down the stretch.
Though the team bolstered its roster with the free agency acquisitions of linebacker Bryce Huff and running back Saquon Barkley, they’ll be without Kelce and Cox, who confirmed his NFL retirement in March after 12 seasons.
The Eagles open the season against the Packers in Brazil on Friday, Sept. 6.