Jason Kelce couldn't hide his emotions as he left the field at Raymond James Stadium on Monday.of philadelphia eagles lost 32-9 to tampa bay buccaneers The 2023 season ended in a disappointing fashion, losing in the wild card playoff round and missing the playoffs.
But for Kelce, and indeed the entire Eagles organization, his exit from the field was more than just the end of a season. It also marked the end of a Hall of Fame career.
like the first time report That's what ESPN's Adam Schefter said Tuesday morning. The 36-year-old went on to tell his teammates in the locker room that this was it for him. Kelce gave it his all for 13 seasons. Now it's time to step away from the game.
Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni said after the game, “He's special and I love him.” “One of the most special men I've ever been around.”
Kelsey arrived in Philadelphia in 2011. A fifth-round draft pick out of Cincinnati, he went on to become one of the best centers in NFL history and a legend for the Eagles franchise.
The numbers say it all. Despite playing one of the most physically demanding positions in sports, Kelce started 205 regular season and playoff games during his career. His stat sheet is mostly empty outside of those games and seven fumble recoveries, but he's been a cornerstone of the organization since day one.
Kelce is a six-time first-team All-Pro selection, one of only five NFL centers to reach that mark, all of whom are Hall of Famers, and was named to the Eagles in February 2018. He contributed to his first Super Bowl victory. He was named team captain on six separate occasions.
And while his name on the national stage may be more closely associated with his brother Travis Kelce, a tight end for the Chiefs, than with his performance on the gridiron, Kelce is a former offensive lineman. managed to do something that few have ever done before. He became a household name. That's largely due to his relationship with his older brother, in his own right, but also, of course, due to his status as an icon in Philadelphia, and in the NFL.
You don't have to look at his speech at the Eagles' Super Bowl parade to see it all boiled down to one distinct moment.
As impressive as he was on the field, his influence on the field also cannot be ignored. Kelce is also very involved in the community and supports numerous organizations, releasing his album every Christmas for the past two years to raise money for charity.
That part of Kelce remains.He won't stop doing philanthropy even after his retirement, he said. NFL report During October.
“It's almost over here,” he said of his playing career. “If this is the case here, which it very well could be, we want to make sure that we are ready to go when football is over. Find out what you want to do, and then enjoy the last moments you have left with everyone…
“When these opportunities come up, you realize that the closer you get to the end of your career, the fewer and fewer opportunities you have to do fun and engaging things with your fans and friends. I think you want to do more, because once it’s over, there’s not going to be that much.”
Kelce's departure from the game does not prevent him from making a positive impact. Meanwhile, the Eagles are now tasked with replacing their franchise legend, one of several challenges they will face heading into the 2024 offseason.
So their loss to the Buccaneers wasn't just about being eliminated from the playoffs too soon for the team's liking. It also signaled the end of an era.
