Philadelphia Eagles star Jason Kelce broke down in tears as he contemplated retiring this season.
The emotional turmoil of the 35-year-old father of three as he reflects on his playing career is documented in the Kelce, a Prime Video documentary that follows an NFL player as he follows football and family behind the scenes.
“It’s getting harder and harder to play,” Kelce said on film. “There were little things that aren’t big yet, but they’ll turn into big things the longer I play.”
During a particularly reflective scene for the NFL star, Kelce and a group of retired NFL players play poker while discussing their decision to retire.
Kelce was drafted by the Eagles in 2011, making the current NFL season his thirteenth year in the league. In 2012, he tore his MCL and suffered a partial ACL tear. In 2018, he played the entire season with a Grade 2 MCL sprain and foot, elbow and shoulder injuries, according to a Crossing Broad report at the time.
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) and his brother Philadelphia Eagles tight end Jason Kelce (62) hug before kickoff of the Philadelphia Eagles vs. Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl LVII game. Dave Shopland/Shutterstock Jason Kelce roasts brother Travis for missing daughter Elliotte’s second birthday: ‘She asked’
While reflecting on her husband’s upcoming decision in the documentary, Kylie Kelce said, “I don’t think people realize that the beatings you get affect the way you interact with your family.”
Kylie, 31, said her husband had been telling her he planned to retire “for years” and thought the timing would be perfect this offseason with their third daughter due right after the 2023 Super Bowl.
“I always tell people, no matter what happens with football, how it ends, I’d like him to retire when he’s still able to get down on the floor and be comfortable playing with our kids,” Kylie said in Kelce.
She continued: “I’m always very quick to point out that they got paid a lot, but it’s crazy as a 35-year-old man to be in a world of pain.”
The couple, who married in Philadelphia in April 2018, have daughters Wyatt Elizabeth, 3, Elliotte Ray, 2, and Bennett Llewellyn, who was born shortly after her father and uncle, Travis Kelce, played against each other in the Super Bowl in 2023
In an emotional scene with retired Eagles linebacker Connor Barwin, Kelce addressed the “elephant in the NFL room,” referring to the negative impact football can have on a player’s body.
Kelce said he is “afraid” of what the “long-term effects of playing football will be” after he retires. “I have two girls and some people end up getting CTE, some guys live long healthy lives, I have no idea what’s going to happen,” said Barwin, who retired from the NFL in 2019.
Jason Kelce says he and brother Travis ‘talked more this year than’ ‘since college’
“The way I rationalized it to myself was nobody’s guaranteed tomorrow, nobody’s guaranteed years ahead,” Kelce said. “If I get CTE and can’t communicate with my grandchildren, I’d still say playing 12 years in the NFL, making my family prosperous and being an influential member of the city of Philadelphia is a good trade-off.”
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(749x0:751x2)/jason-kelce-020123-1-719c575ec86547029b40f15c142f9303.jpg)
Jason Kelce #62 of the Philadelphia Eagles celebrates on the field after the win over the New York Giants. Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images
Later in the documentary, Kylie said their family will “navigate” his decision “no matter what” the father-of-three decides.
“Every logical thing tells me I should stop playing football,” Kelce said, adding, “I have to tear my body apart.”
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
In tears, Kelce said, “I have no doubt that I can be a loving father, no doubt that I can be successful,” before pondering, “But where am I going to be the best in the world at what I fucking do?”
Ultimately, he decided his competitive career wasn’t over and returned for the 2023 NFL season.
Among the reasons he’s not done with football, Kelce said there’s nothing like the “fucking jolt you get” from playing in the NFL. “Fighting for your self-worth is really hard, but it keeps you alive. It keeps you freakin’ juice.”
Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education