After a First Ballot Hall of Fame-caliber career, Jason Kelce officially retired from the NFL on Monday afternoon. The Philadelphia Eagles was a beloved figure in the league and understandably choked up with emotion at intermittent points during his speech.
One of the more notable segments of Kelce’s official goodbye was his description of why he loved the game of football so much. He was a guy who started as a walk-on at the University of Cincinnati and worked so hard to earn his keep because he simply appreciated strapping on shoulder pads and a helmet more than almost anything.
Kelce’s beautiful tangent about his love for his favorite game will ring true with anyone who has a deep connection to football. The intensity and competition, the love for his teammates, all of it:
.@JasonKelce perfectly encapsulates why he loves football. 💚🏈 pic.twitter.com/3M8OQfgg6v
— NFL (@NFL) March 4, 2024
If that doesn’t get you simultaneously choked and fired up, I don’t know what will. That is a man who appreciated every step of his long football journey and who captured the gravity of his privilege to play it at the highest level in the best way. To say this sentiment resonates would be an understatement.
NFL fans loved Kelce's speech about his love for football
phenom career 🫡 draft class ‘11 https://t.co/DvzcXQPY6B
— Cam Jordan (@camjordan94) March 4, 2024
May we all find something we love as much as Jason loved playing football. https://t.co/B9FTQrFRj7
— Tony Chapman (@tony_chapman76) March 4, 2024
Jason Kelce perfectly explains why football is the best.
Congrats to Jason on a Hall-of-Fame career: https://t.co/FGmWRD0tAF
— Saturday Down South (@SatDownSouth) March 4, 2024
jason kelce either makes me laugh or makes me cry… no in betweens @newheightshow https://t.co/mIayEk911Y
— sean yoo (@SeanYoo) March 4, 2024
Congratulations @JasonKelce — football loved you as much as you loved it, and so perfectly expounded upon here. https://t.co/eE8jN3PRz3
— Jade McCarthy (@JadeMcCarthy) March 4, 2024
Thank you @JasonKelce for the impact you’ve had on my life and this city. We’re all going to love you forever. https://t.co/bnEdtob4XZ
— rob (@robbaeharron) March 4, 2024
The best center to ever play the game.
For the love of the game 🥹 https://t.co/YhXwrP49Li
— Tanner Carlson (@TannerCarlson20) March 4, 2024
That camaraderie is what every single football player miss. Nothing in this world matches it. https://t.co/X70Iz6YJ6U
— Fess (@randy_fesser) March 4, 2024
Congratulations on your retirement, @JasonKelce. I don’t have to know you to see that you are so much more than football. Congrats to your family. 💕 https://t.co/OkAI6LG54z
— DocFlynn (@DocFlynnNFL) March 4, 2024
Jason kicking off the heartbreaking March press conferences off right. From here until the Masters it’s all emotion. 💚 https://t.co/Y47QuYtdp4
— Nathaniel (@ntbuxton) March 4, 2024
I’m not crying you’re crying https://t.co/JlbeQKjmTN
— tiff’s tower of terror (@terribletiffy12) March 4, 2024
Great career and even greater man. Definitely a gold jacket in his future https://t.co/hZq04sGAg3
— Rocky Top (@THEonlyROCK713) March 4, 2024
