Jason Kelce's Eagles impact summed up by countless tributes for retiring star
One of Jason Kelce's former teammates has praised the impact the retiring star has had on the Philadelphia Eagles.
The legendary player, 36, said goodbye to American football on Monday after spending all 13 years of his NFL career with the Eagles. During an emotional press conference, he talked about his time as a player and thanked those who helped him along the way.
Since then, tributes have poured in from across the league - including from Zach Ertz, who won the Super Bowl alongside Kelce in 2018. Ertz, 33, joined the league in 2013 and played eight years for the Eagles before moving to the Arizona Cardinals.
"I honestly don’t think you understand the impact you had on your teammates for the past 13 years," said Ertz, who is now a free agent. "I wouldn’t be the player I am without you and we would not have had the success without you; and that’s not even talking about your on-field talent. Thank you for everything."
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Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie shared his admiration. He said: "Jason gave of himself for others, played through injuries, and never wavered through all the ups and downs of our seasons and his own personal career. He could do things out on the football field that no other offensive linemen are capable of doing.
"If you talk to anyone in the organisation about what Jason has meant to them, they would all come up with something different. That is a testament to who he is as a person and how much he cares about connecting with others."
The Eagles team showed their gratitude on X. They posted: "To the GOAT. Thank you, thank you, thank you," while the NFL posted with a green heart emoji: "The hero we needed."
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Kelce confirmed his retirement at a press conference on Monday (YouTube/Eagles Press Conferences)JJ Watt, the ex-NFL star who now owns Premier League side Burnley, praised Kelce. He shared: "Just go ahead and get the Gold Jacket fitted right now. Congrats on one hell of a career, Jason Kelce. A pleasure and an honour to share the field with you."
NFL legend Troy Aikman also celebrated Kelce's career: "Congratulations Jason Kelce on an incredible 13-year career. Much respect for the way you did it week after week, year after year. It was an honour to watch you play."
Kelce had an amazing career with the Eagles. He helped his team beat the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LII and was picked for the All-Pro first team six times. He also played in the Pro Bowl seven times. But in 2023, his younger brother Travis and the Kansas City Chiefs stopped him from winning a second Super Bowl.
People started to wonder if Kelce would stop playing football when he told his teammates he might quit after the Eagles lost to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the playoffs. He said he wasn't done playing then, but he's now decided to step away.
Kelce said: "Stepping on the field was the most alive and free I had ever felt. 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." It has always been a goal of mine to play my whole career in one city. I couldn't have dreamt a better one if I tried."
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* An AI tool was used to add an extra layer to the editing process for this story.
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