Philadelphia Eagles star middle Jason Kelce advised his teammates in Monday night time’s postgame locker room that he’s retiring, league sources advised ESPN.
Kelce, 36, was visibly emotional on the finish of the Eagles’ 32-9 wild-card playoff loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The six-time All-Professional and future Corridor of Famer has thought of retiring in current seasons, however this time it’ll occur, in keeping with sources.
Kelce declined to speak with reporters within the locker room after the sport, saying: “No guys, not right this moment.”
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“I really like him,” Eagles coach Nick Sirianni mentioned. “He is particular and I really like him. He is one of the particular guys I have been round. He is at all times obtained a spot right here.”
Kelce performed this season on a one-year contract and was set to turn out to be a free agent in March.
A sixth-round draft choice in 2011, Kelce has performed his complete 13-year profession with the Eagles and has been one of many key leaders for a staff that has made six postseason appearances and two Tremendous Bowl journeys over the previous seven seasons.
“He is a legend within the metropolis — actually within the league,” Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts mentioned. “I do not need to do a disservice to him and the issues he is been in a position to do and overcome. His journey to the place he’s now did not come simple. It has been an extended, very long time coming for him, and yearly since I have been right here, it has been, ‘Are you going to return again?’
“However he is aware of how a lot I really like and respect him. He is aware of how a lot I’ve realized from him. He’ll eternally have a particular place in my coronary heart.”
Eagles proper sort out Lane Johnson advised reporters that Kelce has “hinted” to teammates that this might be his last season.
“I really like him. He is among the best to ever play the sport,” Johnson mentioned. “The issues he can do on the soccer discipline athletically — I do not suppose we’ll see one other one like him for a very long time.”
Kelce is the fifth middle in NFL historical past with no less than six All-Professional alternatives. The opposite 4 — Jim Otto, Bulldog Turner, Dermontti Dawson, Jim Ringo — are all within the Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame.
ESPN’s Tim McManus contributed to this report.
