Jason

Kelce

Kelce spent all 13 seasons with the Eagles and became one of the most beloved figures in Philadelphia sports history during that time. The seven-time Pro Bowler and six-time All-Pro has mulled retirement for the last several years but is finally ready to hang it up. Widely regarded as one of the best centers in NFL history, Kelce anchored the Eagles’ offensive line for the 2017 season when the team won their first Super Bowl in league history and played in 193 of a possible 211 regular season games during his career, last missing a game in 2014. A true iron man of the sport, Kelce will almost certainly find himself in the Hall of Fame in the coming years.

Kelce has been mulling retirement since the Eagles’ season came to an end following their Wild Card loss to the Buccaneers. Kelce reportedly told teammates he would retire prior to the team’s playoff loss, but that report has since been refuted. The seven-time Pro Bowler and six-time All-Pro has strung together a hall-of-fame caliber resumé during his 13 year career, and has little left to prove at this point. With that said, the Eagles remain one of the top teams in the NFC and could have another Super Bowl run in them next season.

With little left to accomplish in his professional career, Kelce is still leaving the door open for a return in 2024. Kelce turned 36 in November and reportedly told teammates after the NFC Wild Card loss to the Buccaneers that he was retiring. This report has since been disputed, but the 13-year pro is clearly nearing the end of his playing career. The wear-and-tear of an NFL season on Kelce was highly documented in the Amazon Kelce Documentary last year, but despite a multitude of aches and pains, the veteran hasn’t missed a regular season game since 2014. Kelce is a six-time All-Pro who won the Super Bowl in 2017 with the Eagles. He’s a near lock to be a first ballot Hall of Famer whenever he does decide to hang it up, but the lure of one more run at a Super Bowl could be enough for him to return next season. As far as a timetable goes, Kelce said he thinks he’ll “have an answer in the next couple of weeks.”

The six-time first-team All Pro was emotional at the end of the Eagles’ blowout loss to the underdog Bucs on Monday night and reportedly told fellow Eagles players that he would hang it up. Kelce, 36, is slated to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason. Kelce continued playing at a high level in 2023: PFF graded the veteran as the league’s seventh best pass-blocking center and fourth best in run blocking.

Kelce recently announced that he would be returning for his 13th NFL season and the two sides made good on that promise today, agreeing to a one-year deal to bring the veteran center back to Philadelphia. The details of the contract have yet to be disclosed. Kelce started all 20 games for the Eagles during their Super Bowl run in his age 35 year a season ago.

A five-time All-Pro and six-time Pro Bowler, Kelce has spent his entire career with the Eagles. After signing a one-year contract with the Eagles last offseason, he’ll need to come to terms on a new deal if he hopes to remain in Philly. It’s unlikely Kelce would leave for another team via free agency after playing at a high-level last season.

Kelce has been linked to retirement the last few offseasons. Going out with a second Super Bowl would be a nice cap off to a Hall of Fame career for the five-time All Pro. 35-year-old Kelce hasn’t missed a game since 2014 but has years of playing through injuries. Kelce will need a new contract if he returns in 2023 after re-signing to a one-year deal in March.

Kelce sat out most of training camp after undergoing elbow surgery in early August. He was not even listed on the injury report Wednesday, however, and has said he will start. Kelce’s healthy return is a boost to the Eagles offense.

Kelce tried to deal with discomfort in his injured elbow but the longtime center and the team decided a “routine cleanout was the best course and would also allow for a speedy recovery.” Whether that recovery will be over before the regular season kicks off is not known right now. Kelce, entering his age-35 season, signed a one-year contract for $14 million in March.

McLane notes in his report that Kelce “had” Covid and is “on his way back from the illness”, suggesting that his absence could be short-lived. The veteran center signed a one-year, $14 million contract to return for his 12th season with the Eagles.