Jason Kelce hasn't decided if he's retiring from Eagles: Here's what he's saying
Despite media reports that Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce is retiring, the Eagles legend said on this week's "New Heights" podcast that he hasn't decided on whether to retire.
According to reports Tuesday, Kelce told his teammates after the Eagles' 32-9 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFL wild-card round Monday night that he is retiring.
"I didn't announce what I was doing on purpose despite what's been leaked to the media, but I think people can feel body language and stuff. I just don't think you're in a position after a game like that to really make that decision. I really don't," Kelce said on the podcast that dropped Wednesday. "There’s too much emotion in the moment. There’s too much going down in the moment to really, fully grasp that decision."
Kelce said he's not trying to draw the process out or be overly dramatic.
"It’s just something, I think, that when it’s time to officially announce what’s happening in the future, it will be done in a way that’s definitive and pays respect to a lot of people and individuals who have meant a lot to me and what has led to the career I’ve had," Kelce said. "I don’t think it would be respectful or even accurate to be able to do that after a game like that."
Kelce did not take questions on the matter Wednesday afternoon as the Eagles cleaned out their lockers for the season.
Kelce's brother, Travis, said he knew the end of the game was an emotional time for Jason.
"There was a lot of emotion at the end of the game for you guys," Travis said. "I can attest to it because I could feel it. I know Kylie (Jason's wife), Mom, Dad, and everyone who was at the game was feeling it. All the friends and family I got texts from, they were all feeling it.
"It started when you went up to (longtime Eagles offensive line coach Jeff) Stoutland and gave him a big hug," Travis added.
Jason said the hug with Soutland has become an annual occurrence.
"Stout and I have been hugging it out the last game of the season for the last three years," Jason said. "The guy means a lot to me, and we've been through a lot of battles together. There's no doubt that I wouldn't be where I am without Jeff Stoutland. He allowed me to excel with my strengths and to a degree mask my weaknesses throughout my career. It's allowed me to play and execute at a high level. He's taught me so much about my game, so much about life. His passion for the game is incredible."
Buccaneers' defense frustrated Eagles in playoffs
As for the Eagles' loss Monday, Jason said it was frustrating because the Eagles, especially the offense, stalled out at the end of the year.
"I love everyone in that building. All the teammates, all the coaches so much," Jason Kelce said. "You put a lot of hard work in and when it doesn't pan out. ... it was a heck of a collapse. You start out 10-1 and finish losing six of our last seven games. It's a rough way to finish it out this year."
Jason Kelce said the Buccaneers used a lot of blitz zero and a lot of pressure, which kept the Eagles from executing.
"Listen, you have to give credit to the Bucs," Jason Kelce said. "Todd Bowles is one of the best defensive play callers in the league and he was on his game. They were dialing it up from all over the place. They were trying to take away the run game. They were playing a six-man front, basically goal-line defenses and really over-stacking everything. We couldn't execute against it.
"It's a frustrating feeling when you can't get it going and you're doing everything you can and nothing's really working."
Eagles didn't meet high expectations
After making the Super Bowl last season and losing to Travis Kelce and the Kansas City Chiefs, the expectations for the season were very high. Philadelphia starting 10-1 only fueled expectations more and made the collapse even more gut-wrenching.
"Expectations were a lot more than what ended up happening," Jason Kelce said. "The bottom line is nobody was good enough down the stretch. I wasn't, the players weren't, the coaches weren't; it was a collective. Whenever there's that big of a letdown, it's not just one person. It's frustrating, to say the least."
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This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Will Jason Kelce retire? The Eagles' center hasn't decided yet
