Philadelphia Eagles center and future Hall of Famer Jason Kelce told his teammates that he is retiring, league sources told ESPN.
Kelce, considered to be one of the best centers in the history of the NFL, reportedly made the announcement in the locker room after the Eagles’ 32-9 wildcard playoff loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday, ESPN’s Adam Schefter said in a post on X.
The Associated Press and NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo also reported the news.
NBC News reached out to the Eagles and a representative for Kelce, 36, for comment, but has not received responses.
Kelce declined to answer questions in the locker room about his future.
“Not today,” he told reporters who approached his locker, according to NBC Sports.
Kelce, who played the 2023 season on a one-year contract and is set to become a free agent in March, is the fifth center in NFL history with at least six All-Pro selections. The other four are all in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
He’s considered one of the most important players in Philadelphia’s controversial “tush push” plays. Kelce leads the way for QB Jalen Hurts — and their pushing teammates — on their highly effective short-yardage plays.
His apparent retirement comes after the Eagles dropped six of their last seven games after starting the season 10-1. Last season, the Eagles lost a last-second thriller to the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl.
Kelce, late in his career, achieved a level of fame not usually enjoyed by those playing one of football’s most anonymous positions.
He was named one of People magazine’s Sexiest Men Alive and has been a successful advertising figure, pitching products such as Campbell’s Soup and Tide laundry detergent.
Kelce has also been closely associated with his brother and podcast partner, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce — better known as as the boyfriend of Taylor Swift.
Source: | This article originally belongs to Nbcnews.com
