An emotional Jason Kelce choked back tears on the Philadelphia Eagles sideline Monday night and later rushed to find his family after the team’s playoff loss in what may have been the final game of his NFL career.
Kelce, 36, appeared to have tears in his eyes as he stood on the sidelines and watched the final game of the Eagles’ season, which ended in a 32-9 first-round playoff loss on Monday.
It may have been the final game of Kelce’s award-winning 13-year NFL career, according to multiple reports. Kelce, the older brother of Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, has played his entire career with the Eagles since being drafted by the team in 2011. The Eagles center reportedly told teammates after the game that he plans to retire, according to ESPN. The NFL too reported news on Monday morning.
Kelce did not speak to the media following the Eagles’ 32-9 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, telling them, “No, folks, not today.” The network aired video of Kelce hugging his longtime offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland during the final game, before the NFL veteran ran toward the stands to look for his family.
The NFL shared a video of Kelce hugging his wife, Kylie Kelce, and shaking hands with his father, Ed Kelce, who was in attendance at the Tampa Bay game.
Jason Kelce on the possibility of playing his last NFL game tonight: ‘You never know when it’s going to be’
Jason Kelce.
Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images
The question of whether this would be Kelce’s last season in the NFL has dogged the star center all year after he openly — and emotionally — discussed the prospect of retiring from the game during the offseason. The seven-time Pro Bowler and former Super Bowl champion broke down in tears as he discussed the impact of football on his body and his family life during a harrowing scene in his Kelce documentary on Prime Video.
“It’s getting harder and harder to play,” Jason said in a touching scene from the documentary released last September. “There were little things that aren’t big yet, but they’ll turn into big things the longer I play.”
Travis Kelce Talks About NFL Retirement, Says He ‘Has No Desire To Quit Anytime Soon’
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(749x0:751x2)/Emotional-jason-Kelce-Finds-His-Family-After-Possible-Last-NFL-Game-011624-2-43591daa177c40f682162533fb2c59f0.jpg)
Jason Kelce hugs head coach Nick Sirianni.
Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images
Jason and Kylie, 31, welcomed their third daughter, Bennett Llewellyn Kelce, shortly after Super Bowl LVII last year, which the Eagles lost.
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 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.
“Every logical thing tells me I should stop playing football,” Jason says at one point. “I must dismember my body.”
Before the Eagles’ playoff game this week, Kelce again touched on the possibility of retirement, telling reporters, “Anytime you’re older in your career, you never know when it’s going to be.”
Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education