When a pro athlete retires from his sport, he may not miss the travel, the training or the aches and pains, but there are certain things that he simply cannot replace. The competition, the camaraderie with his teammates and the adulation from fans are things that players tend to miss when their playing days are over.
Jason Kelce recently retired after 13 outstanding seasons in the NFL, and the former Philadelphia Eagles star admitted that he does miss the game.
“I’ll always miss it,” Kelce said, via SiriusXM NFL Radio. “I think that there’s gonna be a piece of me that will never get over not being able to play football, I’m sure.”
Former @Eagles Center @JasonKelce discussed being retired after 13 seasons in the NFL…
📻 https://t.co/kDbLh5b43s#Eagles | #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/IgPIVBYoQE
— SiriusXM NFL Radio (@SiriusXMNFL) September 13, 2024
Kelce was consistently one of the best centers in the league and was named to the Pro Bowl seven times and the All-Pro First Team on six occasions.
He spent all of his career with the Eagles and was a major factor in them winning the Super Bowl championship during the 2017 season.
In Kelce’s final seasons, he made a big mark on the NFL by taking part in Philadelphia’s favorite play on third- or fourth-and-short — “The Brotherly Shove” or “Tush Push” — which involved him and the other offensive lineman guiding quarterback Jalen Hurts forward in order to get a first down or touchdown.
Kelce is now part of the “Monday Night Countdown” crew on ESPN, and he continues to co-host the podcast “New Heights” with his brother Travis Kelce, the star tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs.
Travis Kelce put off his own retirement to chase a Super Bowl three-peat with the Chiefs this season, and at the very least, that allows Jason Kelce to continue to experience the NFL vicariously.
