Fans and media react to Jason Kelce's emotional retirement press conference
A visibly emotional Jason Kelce held a press conference on Monday afternoon in which he announced his retirement from the NFL.
Rumors of Kelce's retirement swirled since early January, immediately following the Philadelphia Eagles' wild card round loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. According to reports at the time, the center told his teammates in the locker room after the game that he planned to retire.
Now, the center has made it official.
Kelce spent the entirety of his 13-year career in Philadelphia, where he also set an Eagles franchise record for most consecutive starts: 157. He never missed a game after 2014, when he underwent surgery for a sports hernia and missed four games.
Jason Kelce meets with the media to discuss his future. https://t.co/x1Zb6eJWBA
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) March 4, 2024
With his durability at a physically demanding position, performance on the field and community contributions off of it, Kelce cemented his legacy as a sure-fire Hall of Famer.
Here's how fans and members of football media reacted to Kelce's Monday announcement.
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Jason Kelce retirement reactions
Travis Kelce watches on as Jason Kelce addresses the local media and his family, friends, and Eagles personnel in attendance. pic.twitter.com/3Q5cd3SUPm
— Olivia Reiner (@ReinerOlivia) March 4, 2024
I am SOBBING https://t.co/oCLdjOiZRO
— Benjamin Solak (@BenjaminSolak) March 4, 2024
#Eagles all-time great center and current podcaster Jason Kelce is announcing, in tears and with a cut-off shirt, that he is retiring from the NFL. This is emotional.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 4, 2024
BREAKING NEWS: Jason Kelce is retiring from the NFL.. What a LEGENDARY career 👏#PMSLive pic.twitter.com/Mxwy1g81BB
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) March 4, 2024
Thank you for everything Jason Kelce
Your legacy as a Philadelphia Icon will be the stuff of legend for generations to come.
You made Eagles fans everywhere live their dream of being a champion.
You’re a champion Jason.
Thank you for everything.
pic.twitter.com/7Bs5glL9CD pic.twitter.com/cbBekAiUO9— Philly Sports Sufferer (@mccrystal_alex) March 4, 2024
I’m not emotionally ready to let go of Jason Kelce playing center for the Eagles. We all selfishly want #62 in midnight green forever. Thank God for New Heights and that made for TV family so we can still be close with him. Will miss these blocks the most: pic.twitter.com/QyjbUoabTA
— Conor Myles (@SnipeMyles) March 4, 2024
Not going to lie, it's pretty hard watching Jason Kelce struggle during his retirement speech...
One of the greatest to ever wear a Birds uniform & one of the all-time Philly athletes. Few people have ever represented the city better. The 🐐.
Start building the statue yesterday pic.twitter.com/LgbsAfIAKs— Josh Reynolds (@JoshReynolds24) March 4, 2024
This is definitely my favorite video of Jason Kelce.
This guy truly loved the game of football, his teammates & the city of Philadelphia.
Couldn’t have asked for a better center & leader of this team.
Thank you for an amazing 13 seasons. I wish it could be 13 more.. 🥹💔 https://t.co/5KuBvGXAA2 pic.twitter.com/GPGwsMegCd— Josh Sweat Truther (@EaglesBurna) March 4, 2024
Waiting for Jason Kelce’s press conference like pic.twitter.com/7TCCdnILnt
— Kelsey Chiponis (@kelsey_chiponis) March 4, 2024
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Jason Kelce age
Kelce is 36 years old.
Jason Kelce stats
Over his 13-year career, Kelce won a Super Bowl, earned six first-team All-Pro nods, was a Pro Bowler seven times and established himself as one of the greatest offensive linemen of his generation.
The 36 year old is tied for 27th in NFL history with his six first-team All-Pro selections. Only two retired players ever have that many All-Pro nods and are not in the Hall of Fame: Jim Tyrer, who killed his wife then himself in 1980, and Shane Lechler, who is a punter.
At the end of the 2023 season, Kelce's 157 consecutive regular season starts made him No. 2 on the active leaderboard for consecutive starts. Only Atlanta Falcons offensive tackle Jake Matthews (161) has more.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jason Kelce's retirement sets off wave of fan and media reactions
