On Monday, March 4, Jason Kelce, long-time center for the Philadelphia Eagles, officially retired from the NFL. One of the key players on the Eagles offense, Kelce led them through two trips to the Super Bowl and six postseason appearances.
In an emotional speech on Monday, Kelce told ESPN, “I could hit somebody, run around like a crazed lunatic and then get told, ‘Good job.’ I love football.” In a very successful career, Jason played all 13 seasons with the Eagles. He was selected to seven Pro Bowls and named first-team All-Pro for the sixth time in 2023.
Kelce became the fifth center in NFL history with at least six All-Pro selections. The other four have all been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Kelce was a sixth-round draft pick out of the University of Cincinnati, drafted by the Eagles. Kelce played his final game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, which ended in the Eagles exiting the NFL postseason in the Wild Card round.
Some people believe the combination of his career stats and exceptional character will make Kelce a guaranteed future Hall of Famer. The Pro Football Hall of Fame even tweeted the newfound importance of 2029, due to being the year Kelce will gain eligibility for induction.
One of the most illustrious careers has wrapped up, while his brother, Travis Kelce, remains in the limelight after his Super Bowl win. How do you feel about the retirement, and where would you place Kelce in the greatest center talks?