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Jason Kelce isn't ready to announce his retirement yet.
On the latest episode of the New Heights podcast with his brother Travis, the star center talked about the end of the Philadelphia Eagles' season. The Eagles lost in the NFC Wild Card round to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 32-9, dropping six of their last seven games of the season.
As the final seconds ticked away, Kelce could be seen on the sideline with tears in his eyes. After the game, multiple reports surfaced that Kelce told his teammates he planned to retire.
"I didn't announce what I was doing on purpose despite, I guess, what's been leaked to the media," Jason said on New Heights. But there's a lot of—people can kind of 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 just don't. There's too much emotion in the moment, there's too much going down in the moment to really fully grasp that decision."
As Jason talked about the game on the podcast, he stopped multiple times to collect himself, even warning Travis as the podcast got underway that he had additional responsibilities.
"You're the one who is going to have to bring the energy today," Jason told Travis, interrupting the Chiefs' tight end as he tried to get things started. "I want to go to a dark room and not have to interact with anybody for three days."
After discussing the Chiefs' victory over the Miami Dolphins, Travis gently turned the conversation toward the Eagles' loss.
Jason initially grew emotional when he discussed Eagles offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland. After the game, cameras spotted Jason and Stoutland embracing and talking briefly on the sidelines. On the podcast, Jason credited Stoutland for teaching him "so much" about both football and life.
"When I realized that it could be potentially one of the last times I get to do that with him, I just really wanted him to know how much I appreciate him," Jason said. "I didn't want to get emotional, but what can you do?"
"You can't help it man," Travis said. "Are you kidding me? You're a Kelce."
Jason added that he was frustrated by the leaks.
"I'm not trying to be dramatic and continue to draw this thing out. I'm really not," he said. "It's just something that I think when it's time to officially announce what's happening in the future, it'll be done in a way that's definitive and pays respect to a lot of people and individuals that have meant a lot to me, and what has led to the career I've had. I don't think it would be respectful or even accurate to be able to do that right after a game like that."
Jason was drafted by the Eagles in 2011 in the sixth round with the 191st overall pick. He spent his entire career in Philadelphia, collecting seven Pro Bowl and six All-Pro selections at the center position, and he was part of the Eagles squad that won the Super Bowl in 2018.
After the game, Jason said, a number of players approached him and said they felt sorry for him if that was indeed his last game.
"Don't feel sorry for me, motherf******," Jason said, with a chuckle. "I had a f******..."
He trailed off, clearly unable to continue talking.
Travis smiled and nodded.
"Hell yeah, brother," he said. "Hell yeah, man."
About the writer
Tom Westerholm is a Life & Trends Reporter for Newsweek based in Michigan. His work is focused on reporting on trending ... Read more