04 March 2024 , 21:48
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Jason Kelce has announced his retirement from the NFL.
Kelce, 36, confirmed his decision on Monday - just under two months after his emotional reaction to the Philadelphia Eagles' playoff loss last season. Kelce has been a favourite with fans in Pennsylvania since he became a standout player in his position, centre.
He was picked up in the sixth round of the 2011 NFL Draft and has been with the Eagles ever since. He was brought to tears after the Eagles' 32-9 defeat to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the Wild Card round, leading many to wonder if he had played his last game.
Before this, the star player had helped Philadelphia achieve a 10-1 record in the regular season in 2023. However, the team ended their campaign 11-6, with their loss to the Bucs at the first hurdle of the post-season being a major setback.
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Kelce told reporters: "I am very proud knowing where I was once was and the legacy I have left behind... Some people struggle to play in this city - I considered it a blessing to play in the most passionate sports town in America. Thank you Philadelphia, for letting me represent this city."
At a press conference in Philadelphia, it was revealed that Kelce had decided to retire from football after more than a decade with the Eagles. He was visibly emotional as he came out to speak to the reporters gathered and broke down in tears.
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Kelce won one Super Bowl with the Philadelphia Eagles (Getty)Kelce was part of the amazing Eagles team that won Super Bowl LII by beating the New England Patriots with a score of 41-33. On top of this championship win, he has also been praised for his individual performance and was chosen for the Pro Bowl seven times, as well as being a six-time first-team All-Pro.
Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie added: "He gave everything he had to all of us for 13 years. And he did it in a way that was truly authentic. Jason was an incredible football player: A future Hall of Famer who would have been successful anywhere. But has there ever been a more perfect marriage between a player, a city and a team?"
Thinking about retirement before the 2022 and 2023 seasons, he signed one-year contracts with the Eagles both times which lengthened his time with the team. In the 2022 season, Kelce had a chance to play against his brother Travis in Super Bowl LVII, but the Eagles lost to the Kansas City Chiefs 38-35.
On his brother, Kelce said: "There is no chance I'd be here without the bond Travis and I share."
* An AI tool was used to add an extra layer to the editing process for this story.