Jason Kelce tearfully confirmed his retirement Monday after 13 seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles.
The 36-year-old has spent his entire career with Philadelphia, helping them win their first Super Bowl in 2018 and reach the NFL championship again in 2023.
Kelce was a sixth-round pick by the Eagles in 2011 but is now considered one of the best centers in the NFL ever.
He cried as he began a statement that lasted more than 40 minutes and continued to hold back tears.
“I am very proud to know where I once was and the legacy I left behind,” he said.
Kelce denied that he had decided to retire last January, after the Eagles were eliminated from the playoffs last season, saying that he needed time to think about his future.
He was selected to the Pro Bowl seven times, played in 205 games and holds the franchise record for consecutive starts.
He will be remembered as a Philadelphia legend, earning that status with an emotional speech during the Super Bowl parade in 2018 — on the steps made famous by the Rocky movies.
The Eagles return to the Super Bowl to take on the Kansas City Chiefs in 2023, with Kelce facing off against his brother Travis.
