In what can only be described as the most eloquent and passionate retirement speech you’ll ever hear, Jason Kelce has walked away from the NFL after 13 seasons.
A sixth-round draft pick out of the University of Cincinnati in 2011, Kelce started and played in 193 games over his 13 seasons.
Jason Kelce is the fifth center in NFL history with at least six All-Pro selections. The other four — Jim Otto, Bulldog Turner, Dermotti Dawson, and Jim Ringo — are all in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
With the Eagles officially moving into another era, here’s the national media reaction to Kelce’s announcement.
Dave Zangaro
Adding to this list: Nick Sirianni, Kevin Patullo, Connor Barwin, Brent Celek, Julian Lurie, Don Smolenski
— Dave Zangaro (@DZangaroNBCS) March 4, 2024
Dave Zangaro
The Kelce family is here. pic.twitter.com/PHcKDJHYL0
— Dave Zangaro (@DZangaroNBCS) March 4, 2024
Tim McManus
Travis Kelce has a moment with Nick Sirianni before Jason’s press conference. pic.twitter.com/mdpyOSDh5O
— Tim McManus (@Tim_McManus) March 4, 2024
Martin Frank
Travis Kelce, in shades, is here. No Taylor Swift. #Eagles pic.twitter.com/FAxtbhjLCa
— Martin Frank (@Mfranknfl) March 4, 2024
Benjamin Solak
I have nothing but admiration and love for Jason Kelce. One of the best to ever do it and the defining player of the last decade of Eagles football.
— Benjamin Solak (@BenjaminSolak) March 4, 2024
Jeff McLane
With hands now full of tissues. https://t.co/1bP6dGyTv2
— Jeff McLane (@Jeff_McLane) March 4, 2024
Tom Pelissero
Jason Kelce's press conference is live now on @nflnetwork, as he tries to gather himself long enough to read his speech and make his announcement.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 4, 2024
Jeff Kerr
Football has meant so much to Jason Kelce #Eagles pic.twitter.com/q6Bzg8UQkY
— Jeff Kerr (@JeffKerrCBS) March 4, 2024
Brooks Kubean
Jason Kelce says Cincy's strength coach, Paul Longo, told him, "You'd make a great center."
He says he shrugged that off at first. But Longo moved him to the offensive line soon afterward.
Kelce says that was the "single greatest thing in football that ever happened to me."
— Brooks Kubena (@BKubena) March 4, 2024
The Athletic
BREAKING: Eagles center Jason Kelce has announced his retirement from the NFL during a press conference Monday. pic.twitter.com/LAKKI0IxSA
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) March 4, 2024
Chris Long
🫶🏽🫶🏽🦅🦅 pic.twitter.com/5bxkLlPFcD
— Green Light with Chris Long (@greenlight) March 4, 2024
Mike Garafalo
Gotta be the first time a band teacher was thanked at an NFL retirement presser. Respect.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) March 4, 2024
Andrew Marchand
Kelce will have options outside of his New Heights Podcast.
NEW: If Jason Kelce wants an NFL TV studio job, NBC, CBS & ESPN are the leaders for his services.
Full details:https://t.co/acVFEaQjKk
— Andrew Marchand (@AndrewMarchand) March 4, 2024
NFL
Nobody cares more about this game than @JasonKelce. ❤️😢 pic.twitter.com/FEnllKeDtR
— NFL (@NFL) March 4, 2024
ESP
Jason Kelce speaking about Nick Sirianni
“Sometimes the flowers get knocked back a bit. But the roots remain. I can’t wait to watch it reblossom next season” #Eagles pic.twitter.com/paookIjfD7
— Eliot Shorr-Parks (@EliotShorrParks) March 4, 2024
Travis Kelce
Travis Kelce emotional during Jason Kelce’s retirement press conference.
A beautiful moment to see Jason’s family going through this with him. He is looking at them often throughout the speech #Eagles pic.twitter.com/ieIqxDRGt4
— Eliot Shorr-Parks (@EliotShorrParks) March 4, 2024
The 33rd Team
– 13 seasons
– 193 starts
– 6x First-Team All-Pro
– 7x Pro Bowl
– SB LII Champion
– Eagles franchise record holder for consecutive starts (156)
– Countless memorable momentsAfter missing 14 games in 2012, Kelce missed just 4 games and 671 snaps over the final 11 years of his… pic.twitter.com/kvey7XVoe0
— The 33rd Team (@The33rdTeamFB) March 4, 2024
Ari Meirov
Jason Kelce broke down crying as he began his retirement press conference. Very emotional…pic.twitter.com/0ztzuAWIbz https://t.co/uWXzGfRcnL
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) March 4, 2024
The Sporting News
Eagles center Jason Kelce has announced his retirement from the NFL after 13 seasons 🦅 pic.twitter.com/v40FVB9cxh
— The Sporting News (@sportingnews) March 4, 2024
Sports Center
Jason Kelce broke down in tears in the middle of his retirement announcement 💔
📽️ @Eagles pic.twitter.com/12D5MpvzR1
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) March 4, 2024
RGIII
One thing is clear from this press conference. Jason Kelce LOVES football and we were blessed to watch him play it. pic.twitter.com/wd72igdkhf
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) March 4, 2024