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2024-03-05 00:12:01
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — It only took Jason Kelce a few seconds to burst into tears.
Kelce’s eyes filled up every time he told a story about backyard football games with his brother, the love he feels for his parents and the devotion of his coaches, even a band teacher, who shaped him into his life. . But it was his career with the Philadelphia Eagles that choked Kelce the most.
All the memories, the victories, the brotherhood, both with his teammates with the Eagles and with his younger brother, Travis, the Kansas City Chiefs tight end, which consumed Kelce to the point of needing about 45 minutes to reach the inevitable conclusion that everyone in the packed auditorium knew was coming from the moment the press conference was announced.
It was time for retirement.
At age 36, Kelce officially announced his retirement Monday at the Eagles’ NovaCare Complex, ending a 13-year career spent entirely with Philadelphia, where he became not only one of the greatest centers to play the position and was a key element in the team’s only Super Bowl championship, but also a beloved character and a popular character as a podcast host.
“Let’s see how long this lasts,” Kelce said, wearing an Eagles tank top, before breaking down in tears and needing several moments to compose himself at the news conference attended by his parents, Ed and Donna, his wife Kylie and Travis. who was wearing sunglasses inside the auditorium. Eagles coach Nick Sirianni sat behind reporters.
Kelce, who was selected to seven Pro Bowls, and former Pittsburgh players Dermontti Dawson and Mike Webster are the only centers since the 1970 merger to earn All-Pro honors five times. Dawson and Webster are both in the Hall of Fame.
Kelce played 193 regular season games with the Eagles.
“It was always my goal to play my entire career in one city. I couldn’t have dreamed of a better one if I had tried.”
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