Eagles’ Jason Kelce announces his retirement after 13 seasons

Jason Kelce, the standout center for the Eagles and a pivotal leader for a team that experienced six postseason appearances and two Super Bowl trips in the last seven seasons, officially announced his retirement on Monday.

Selected in the sixth round of the 2011 draft, the 36-year-old Kelce dedicated his entire 13-year professional career to the Eagles. Throughout his illustrious journey, he earned seven Pro Bowl selections in 13 seasons and was honored as a first-team All-Pro for the sixth time in 2023, underscoring his consistently elite performance until his final snap.

Kelce’s legacy extends beyond personal achievements, as he stands alone among centers since the 1970 merger, having won a Super Bowl and secured first-team All-Pro honors six times. Despite contemplating retirement at various points in recent years, it became evident that this decision held greater weight when, as reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Kelce informed teammates of his retirement following the wild card loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in January.

Jason Kelce announced his retirement today

Next Stop: Canton @BarstoolPhilly pic.twitter.com/zyyKTGJkoo

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Reflecting on Kelce’s impact, right tackle Lane Johnson remarked, “If it was his last game, he was one of the best teammates I’ve ever had—a guy whose passion is unmatched. A guy who I saw Philly try to run him out of town. I saw a guy emerge from that and become the best center maybe that’s ever played.”

Kelce joins an exclusive group as the fifth center in NFL history with at least six All-Pro selections. The other four—Jim Otto, Bulldog Turner, Dermontti Dawson, and Jim Ringo—are all enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.