The Eagles reportedly offered Jason Kelce $9 million in an attempt to bring him back for 2024, and the center finally announced his retirement on Monday.
Kelce, who spent his entire 13-year career in Philadelphia, will go down as a franchise legend and is a sure Hall of Famer.
And according to him US Sunthe Eagles were “desperate” to keep the 36-year-old for one more season.
The US Sun said the Eagles will retire Kelce’s No. 62 jersey after he decided to hang up his cleats.
Philadelphia paid him $14.25 million last season, the most for any center in the league.
Jason Kelce gave an emotional retirement speech Monday at the Eagles facility.
Jason is seen with his wife, Kylie, and three young daughters at Lincoln Financial Field.
Kelce shook hands with Eagles executive vice president Howie Roseman after giving his retirement speech.
And while the Eagles seemingly made an effort to retain Kelce, this was the end of the road for him and the franchise.
“He knows he wasn’t getting any younger, and seeing his brother win another Super Bowl made him reconsider maybe playing another season, but he made the best decision because he feels he needed to stop his career,” a source said. he told the US newspaper Sun.
“He loves Philadelphia, the franchise, but he also wants to spend more time with his family and start another career in his life, which he knows will be very exciting.”
The Ohio native, who hosts the popular ‘New Heights’ podcast with his brother Travis, could now pursue a career in broadcasting.
He met with executives from ESPN and Fox during Super Bowl week, according to Reception sports.
Either way, his next chapter was apparently far from his mind on Monday when he announced his retirement in front of his wife, Kylie, his parents Donna and Ed, and his brother Travis.
Kelce raises his arms after winning the Super Bowl with Philadelphia in 2018 against the Patriots
Kelce had an emotional moment with his family after losing to the Bucs in this year’s playoffs.
Philadelphia executive vice president Howie Roseman, who reportedly played a key role in the team’s last-minute contract offer to Kelce, was also present.
Kelce needed 45 minutes to recount his career while fighting through tears at the Eagles facility before finally confirming his retirement.
He thanked a long list of mentors from his high school football, hockey and lacrosse coaches and his former band teachers at Cleveland Heights (Ohio) High School for putting up with a “mischievous kid who was full of immaturity.” , stupidity and arrogance.”
He also thanked his coaches in Cincinnati for believing he could play center, a fortuitous decision that made him a perfect fit in Philadelphia, and then thanked his four coaches with the Eagles.
Kelce choked up again thanking Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie for his leadership and general manager Howie Roseman for drafting him.
He shared memories of his career with the Eagles and said he would never forget the day former Eagles coach Reid called him to tell him Kelce had been drafted by the Eagles.
Kelce played 193 regular season games for the Eagles.
“It’s always been a goal of mine to play my entire career in one city,” Kelce said. “I couldn’t have dreamed anything better if I’d tried.”
Speaking about his relationship with his younger brother, Kelce said, “This is where everything will go off the rails.”
“I won’t forget the failure against the Chiefs and the conflicting feeling of anguish I selfishly had for myself and my teammates and, at the same time, the pride I had for my brother. He climbed to the top of the mountain once again.
‘We have a small family. No cousins. An aunt and an uncle. It really was my brother and I our whole lives. We did almost everything together. Competing, fighting, laughing, crying and learning from each other.
Kelce has completed Amazon’s Thursday Night Football and has been tipped for a television career.
Still, his heart will be heavy as he leaves behind the game he loves after 13 professional seasons.
‘We invent games, we imagine ourselves as the star players of that time. We imagine ourselves making winning plays, day after day. We won countless Super Bowls in our minds before we left home. And when we weren’t playing, we were at each other’s games.
‘Butt sitting in a long chair or on a bench, a Capri Sun in our hands that Mom had packed, cheering during the game and waiting outside and after to celebrate together a victory or offer encouragement after a loss.
‘There’s no chance I’d be here without the bond Travis and I share. He made me stronger, tougher, smarter and taught me the values of cooperation, loyalty and understanding.’
He also paid a touching tribute to his wife Kylie, saying it was “no coincidence that I enjoyed the best years of my career with Kylie by my side.”
Travis Kelce burst into tears as he watched his brother speak, sitting next to his parents.
Jason and his wife, Kylie, kissed as he stepped off the podium on Monday afternoon.
“I think it’s no coincidence that I’ve enjoyed the best years of my career with Kylie by my side,” he said. ‘All the praise I have received in my life has come with her in my life.
‘She has brought out the best in me through love, devotion, support, honesty, intelligence and of course a quick kick in the butt from time to time. She has also given me three beautiful girls in a life that increasingly brings me more satisfaction off the field than on it. We’ve had a great run, Ky.
Kelce’s retirement announcement drew tributes from around the NFL, with the likes of JJ Watt, Tyreek Hill and Russell Wilson offering their congratulations.
“Just go ahead and put on the gold jacket right now,” Watt said on X. “Congratulations on an incredible career @JasonKelce.” A pleasure and an honor to share the countryside with you.’