Jason Kelce drew a slew of congratulations after officially announcing his retirement Monday in a 45-minute speech.
The six-time All-Pro center spent his entire 13-year NFL career with the Philadelphia Eagles, winning a Super Bowl in 2018. He is the only center with a Super Bowl ring and six first-team All-Pro selections since the 1970 merger. Kelce is also the fifth center in NFL history with at least six All-Pro honors.
“Stepping on the field was the most alive and free I had ever felt,” Kelce said in his retirement speech. “There was a visceral feeling with football, unlike any sport. The hairs on my arms would stand up. I could hit somebody, run around like a crazed lunatic and then get told, ‘Good job.’ I love football.'”
Kelce’s parents, Ed and Donna, his wife, Kylie, and brother, Travis Kelce, the Kansas City Chiefs tight end, were all in attendance.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that after the Eagles wild-card playoff round loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in January, Kelce told his teammates he’d be retiring. However, he did not make it official until Monday.
His alma mater, the Cincinnati Bearcats, where Kelce was a walk-on, and athletes from around the sports world were among the first to congratulate him on his career.