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Thank you, Jason Kelce

The most decorated center in Eagles history ends his career after 13 seasons, all in Philadelphia.

By Philadelphia Eagles

March 4^th, 2024

A sixth-round draft pick in 2011 who not only defied the odds but actually smashed those odds and put together a Pro Football Hall of Fame career, Jason Kelce created a legacy for this organization and fans around the world with what he did on and off the football field.

He combined athleticism, intelligence, toughness, coachability, leadership, and every intangible you can think of, really, to leave an indelible mark on the game.

Kelce officially announced his retirement on Monday, ending a chapter of Eagles history that we all hoped would never end.

The Ironman

• 13 seasons, all in Philadelphia

Tied for third most in franchise history

• 193 regular-season games played

Most by an offensive player in Eagles history
Second most in franchise history
Started every game of his NFL career

• 156 consecutive regular-season games started

Longest streak in Eagles history
Streak started in 2014 and lasted through the remainder of his career
Played 13,075 regular-season snaps during his career, according to PFF
Played 95 percent or more of the team's snaps in 10 of his 13 seasons

“It is difficult to put into words how much Jason Kelce has meant to everyone in this organization, to the City of Philadelphia, and to our fans. He gave everything he had to all of us for 13 years, and he did it in a way that was truly authentic. Jason was an incredible football player; a future Hall of Famer who would have been successful anywhere. But has there ever been a more perfect marriage between a player, a city, and a team?

“His grit and determination, from being a walk-on linebacker at Cincinnati to an undersized sixth-round pick in 2011, are unparalleled. His intelligence and versatility, from starting as a rookie center in a lockout season to thriving under multiple coaches and offensive schemes, set him apart from others at his position. The genuine love and care he showed his coaches, teammates, and staff, endeared him to all he worked alongside. The passion and intensity that he poured into everything he did, both on and off the field, made a city fall in love.

"Jason gave of himself for others, played through injuries, and never wavered through all the ups and downs of our seasons and his own personal career. He is a man of many talents – he could chug beers with fans at a tailgate, he could sing in a Christmas album and raise millions for charity, or he could talk X’s and O’s all day with coaches and teammates. Then after all of that, he could do things out on the football field that no other offensive linemen are capable of doing. If you talk to anyone in the organization about what Jason has meant to them, they would all come up with something different. That is a testament to who he is as a person and how much he cares about connecting with others.

“But even for the millions of fans who never had the privilege of meeting Jason, he had such a deep understanding and genuine appreciation for what was important to them. Nothing exemplified that better than his Super Bowl Parade speech that brought to the surface the emotions that so many of us had been holding inside for years. Today is a bittersweet day, because while it is hard to imagine the Eagles taking the field without Jason Kelce in uniform, we are also excited to celebrate his career and support him as his journey continues. Although Jason is retiring from the NFL, I have no doubt that he will continue to be successful in everything he does, and his impact on our organization and this city will reverberate for many years to come.

“On a personal level, it has been a pleasure watching Jason’s career and getting to know him and his family. He and Kylie have devoted themselves to so many great causes, and I am especially grateful for the work they have done and continue to do with the Eagles Autism Foundation. We wish all the best for Jason, Kylie, and their three wonderful daughters as they begin the next chapter together.”

– Jeffrey Lurie, Eagles Chairman and CEO

Next Stop: Pro Football Hall of Fame

• 7 Pro Bowls

Tied for second most in Eagles history
Most by any Eagles center

• 6-time First-Team All-Pro

Only NFL center to accomplish this since the 1970 AND win a Super Bowl

• PFF overall grade of 94.4 in 2017 is the highest by any center in the scouting service's history (since 2006)

Graded by PFF as the league's top center for 3 straight years (2017-19)
Graded by PFF as Top 4 center in 8 of his final 11 seasons
Graded by PFF as a Top 4 center in each of past 3 seasons

• Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year nominee

• Ed Block Courage Award recipient

“Legacies are great, but you can’t look at that until you’re done. Pro Bowls are important, but it’s much more important how I’m remembered by my teammates and coaches and people that really know. I’ve been to a lot of Pro Bowls and I’ve been heralded as a really good offensive lineman, but I honestly don’t think I’m the best lineman in my time here at the Eagles ... it takes all of us working together and being on the same page with all of those guys, so I really care about the legacy I’ve left in those guys’ minds and how I’ve treated individuals in the building. That’s what will always resonate most with me.” – Jason Kelce

“I love him, he is one of my brothers. I never had a brother growing up, I was an only child, so these guys are my family. I love him. He is one of the best centers to play the game. There’s few guys that could do the things he could do on the football field athletically. I don’t think we will see another one like him for a long time.” – Lane Johnson

“He’s a legend in the city, really in the league. I don’t want to do a disservice to him and the things that he has been able to do and overcome. His journey to where he is now didn’t come easy. It has been a long time coming for him. He knows how much I love and appreciate him. He knows how much I’ve learned from him. He will forever have a special place in my heart.” - Jalen Hurts

Who snapped the ball on the greatest play in Eagles history?

Relive the greatest Super Bowl speech of all time

Man of the people

“Philadelphia has been a blessing for me to come here. I think I fit in really well,” he said, “not just with the organization and the team, but also with the fan base. I’m very grateful to have been able to play here and insert myself and my family into Philadelphia and fully call myself a Philadelphian here. It’s an honor.” – Jason Kelce

• Has provided significant time and resources to benefit the Eagles Autism Foundation over the years ... His wife, Kylie, works in a classroom for children with special needs and she grew up with a neighbor and close friend who was diagnosed with autism ... He is an ambassador to multiple events tied to the Eagles Autism Foundation, including the Eagles Autism Challenge and Huddle Up for Autism events

“Away from the game, Jason has become a passionate advocate for autism awareness and research through the Eagles Autism Foundation and has dedicated his time to assisting various organizations and nonprofits in need.” – Chairman and CEO Jeffrey Lurie

• Recorded a Christmas album in each of the last two offseasons with Lane Johnson and Jordan Mailata ... The albums gained national attention, raising more than $3 million for local charities in the Philadelphia area

• Founded the Be Philly Foundation in 2022, which aims to invest in the next generation of Philadelphians ... Part of the foundation’s launch included the proceeds of his “Underdog” clothing brand, which notably features the logo of the dog mask that became popular during the Eagles’ Super Bowl LII-winning postseason run, along with numerous T-shirts sporting caricatures of his current teammates

“The significance of No. 62 is that when I made it to the NFL this is the number that was given to me and I am honored to wear it. Growing up, I kind of liked the No. 13 for the sports that I played. But I had a football coach in middle school who once said to me, 'The player makes the number, not the other way around.' Since then, I've taken the number that was handed to me. I have an identity with 62 and I'm going to have that forever.” – Jason Kelce

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