After 13 seasons, all spent with the Philadelphia Eagles, the popular center announced his retirement starting the clock ticking toward enshrinement in the Hall of Fame
Everyone knew this day would come; to say goodbye to center Jason Kelce.
That day was Monday, four days into March, four years into the decade of the 2020s, at the age of 36, and after 13 seasons spent in the NFL, all of them with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Now, the clock begins to tick on what’s next. Kelce said he isn’t sure what the immediate future holds but what seems certain is that in 2029, he will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
He spoke for 42 minutes, reading from a scripted speech off his cell phone, a speech made longer by dozens of emotional outbursts from the moment he was seated at a table on an auditorium stage inside the team’s training facility.
It was no secret what brought everyone to South Philly on Monday. When the doors opened to the auditorium, there were signs on 29 seats, reserving them for the biggest supporters in his life, including his parents, Ed and Donna Kelce, his brother and Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, and his wife Kylie.
All four sat in the first row, dabbing at their eyes occasionally with a tissue.