Jason Kelce ended his 13-year NFL career on Monday announcing his retirement in an emotional press conference that featured friends, family and teammates.
It ends a fantastic run in Philadelphia and also begins the countdown to what should be a first-ballot selection to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
The guys in Canton, Ohio, watched the press conference and started the countdown on Kelce’s nomination.
Now that Philadelphia Eagles star center @JasonKelce has announced his retirement, the year 2029 is worth noting. pic.twitter.com/WVsivlIHAW
— Pro Football Hall of Fame (@ProFootballHOF) March 4, 2024
A sixth-round draft pick out of the University of Cincinnati in 2011, Kelce started and played in 193 games over his 13 seasons.
Kelce is the fifth center in NFL history with at least six All-Pro selections. The other four — Jim Otto, Clyde “Bulldog” Turner, Dermontti Dawson, and Jim Ringo — are all in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Kelce made his first Pro Bowl in 2014 and has been named to the Associated Press All-Pro team in six of the past seven seasons.
Six of those All-Pro honors came after Kelce turned 30, the most ever and one more than Jerry Rice and Bruce Smith.