Philadelphia Eagles legend and NFL veteran Jason Kelce announced his retirement Monday. The brother of Chiefs star Travis Kelce, the former Eagle Center and likely future Hall of Famer gave an emotional speech surrounded by his parents, Ed and Donna, brother Travis, and wife Kylie. During the speech, he talked about the importance of family, specifically being a good father.
As brother Travis wiped away tears, Jason said: “I think one of the best things a person can be in this world is a father. A father who is present, loving, devoted just might be the greatest gift a child could ask for in our society, and I am a damn good one.” Kelce is a father to three daughters and continued by saying about his own father that he “continues to be the man I strive to be.”
Kelce played all 13 seasons of his career with the Eagles, winning a Super Bowl over the New England Patriots and Tom Brady in 2018. Between tears and memories, Jason also managed to cater to any Swifties who happened to be watching with numerous subtle references to his brother’s girlfriend.
Kelce alluded to Swift when he wryly said: “It’s only too poetic I found my career being fulfilled in the city of brotherly love, I knew that relationship all too well. If you go above and beyond in this city, you will be rewarded beyond your wildest dreams.” Taylor Swift fans inundated the live chat feature on YouTube as the speech was being streamed.
On the topic of football, Kelce fondly recalled some of his favorite memories as an Eagle. He said: “I won’t forget walking out on a snowless field. I won’t forget walking back out into a blizzard. I won’t forget finding out Carson [Wentz] tore his ACL. I won’t forget the parade and the joy it brought the city of Philadelphia. I won’t forget falling short to the Chiefs and the immense heartbreak I had selfishly, for myself and for my teammates,” “And the same time the amount of pride I had for my brother climbed the mountaintop once again.”
Kelce is excited to spend more time with his wife, Kylie, who he met at an Eagles Christmas party, and daughters Wyatt, 4, Elliotte, 2, and Bennett, 1. He also has the No.1 rated sports podcast with brother Travis called “New Heights With Jason and Travis Kelce.” The pod exploded when Travis started dating Taylor Swift, and it remains near the top of all podcast charts.
It remains to be seen as to whether the elder Kelce will be in an NFL studio or broadcast booth this fall, but he is a natural communicator and could add a level of insight that many currently in the booth can’t. That, along with the Swift factor, could entice a network to write him a blank check for his services.
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Whatever Jason Kelce does moving forward, he was a class act as a player and a solid citizen for a league that sometimes is lacking in solid citizens. The Philadelphia Eagles will miss his veteran presence, and whoever replaces him will be replacing a Philly legend.
Featured image screen grab from embedded video