Jason Kelce will be ‘tough’ to replace in Eagles locker room, says Andy Reid, as the Chiefs head coach opens up on watching the legendary center and ‘tremendous’ brother Travis grow

Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid insisted that his former player Jason Kelce will be difficult to replace in the Philadelphia Eagles locker room.

Kelce, 36, announced his retirement from the NFL earlier this month, ending a 13-year career with the Eagles.

The legendary center, who spent all 13 seasons in Philadelphia, was a great presence in the Eagles locker room.

Reid, who selected Kelce in the sixth round of the 2011 NFL draft when he was still the head coach in Philadelphia, said Kelce’s leadership will be difficult to replicate.

“It’s difficult for a couple of reasons,” he told Sports Radio WIP. ‘I don’t know who’s coming after him, but he had a great voice there.

“Not only was he a great player but he also had leadership. He did it on the field, he also did it off the field, which was important. All those guys that keep everyone in line is a great thing. I’m sure they have others guys who can work there.

‘I haven’t studied their squad enough, but the younger you are, the harder it is. Although it seemed to do so when he entered. He took care of things immediately.

The 66-year-old coached Kelce for just two years before Philadelphia fired him and he became the head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs.

In Kansas City, Reid selected Kelce’s younger brother, Travis Kelce, in the third round of the 2013 draft.

The coach won three Super Bowls with Travis and the Chiefs, including the last two years.

And Reid opened up about his relationship with the entire Kelce family and expressed his pride in the retired NFL veteran.

“I’ve become close to that family,” he said, via Zach Berman. ‘Between Travis and then Jason, I’ve seen both guys grow. They’re tremendous players, and Jason is a great leader, an emotional player, he brings that to the table and has for a long time. 13 years? That’s a long time. I take my hat off to him.

‘He’s reaching the top as a player, an All-Pro player. Could he have played a couple more years? Probably. But that body has taken a lot of beatings. And now he’s got a nice little job going.

‘But listen, I’m proud: I love the kid and I’m proud of him for making that decision. Whatever he does, he will do it very well.”

Jason accepted a major role in convincing Reid to draft his younger brother after the head coach maintained his reservations about the tight end.

The coach was convinced of his ability on the field, but Travis’ season-long suspension from the University of Cincinnati team for multiple positive marijuana tests was a sticking point.

But Travis’ older brother, Jason, who was also drafted by Reid with the Philadelphia Eagles, played a key role in convincing the veteran coach to take a chance on his brother.

The center said Reid called him shortly before the draft to ask if he could try to target young Kelce.

“I felt like he was asking me at that moment, ‘Do you realize that I’m taking this chance.’ I want to make sure this works,” Jason told ESPN.