Jason Kelce ‘turned down $9MILLION deal to stay in Philadelphia’ with the Eagles front office ‘desperate’ to stop him retiring… but franchise ‘plans to honor legendary center’ as he brings the curtain down on 13-year career
The Eagles reportedly offered Jason Kelce $9 million in an attempt to bring him back for 2024, with the center ultimately announcing his retirement on Monday.
Kelce – who spent his entire 13-year career in Philly – will go down as a franchise legend and is a surefire Hall of Famer.
And according to the American sunthe Eagles were ‘desperate’ to keep the 36-year-old for another season.
The American Sun said the Eagles will retire Kelce’s No. 62 jersey after he decided to hang up his boots.
Last season, Philly paid him $14.25 million, the most of any club in the league.
Jason Kelce gave an emotional retirement speech at the Eagles center on Monday
Jason is seen with his wife Kylie and his three young daughters at Lincoln Financial Field
Kelce shook hands with Eagles EVP Howie Roseman after his farewell speech
And while the Eagles apparently did their best to keep Kelce, this was the end of the road for him and the franchise.
“He knows he wasn’t getting any younger and when he saw his brother win another Super Bowl, he had to think about maybe playing another season, but he made the best decision because he felt he could continue his career had to stop,” said a source. told the American Sun.
“He loves Philly, the franchise, but he also wants to spend more time with his family and start a new career in his life, which he knows will be very exciting.”
The Ohio native — who co-hosts the popular “New Heights” podcast with his brother Travis — could now pursue a career in broadcasting.
He met with executives from ESPN and Fox during Super Bowl week Front office sports.
Regardless, his next chapter seemed far from his mind on Monday when he announced his retirement in front of his wife Kylie, parents Donna and Ed, and brother Travis.
Kelce raises his arms after winning the Super Bowl with Philly against the Patriots in 2018
Kelce had an emotional moment with his family after losing to the Bucs in the playoffs this year
Philly’s executive vice president Howie Roseman — who was said to have played a crucial role in the team’s reported final contract offer to Kelce — was also in attendance.
Kelce took 45 minutes to recount his career as he fought through tears at the Eagles facility before finally confirming his retirement.
He thanked a long list of mentors from his high school football, hockey and lacrosse coaches and his old high school band teachers in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, for putting up with a “rambunctious child who was full of immaturity, stupidity and stubbornness.” .
He also thanked his coaches at Cincinnati for believing he could play center, a fortuitous decision that made him a good fit for Philadelphia, and then thanked his four coaches with the Eagles.
Kelce choked up again, thanking Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie for his leadership and general manager Howie Roseman for drafting him.
He shared memories of his Eagles career and said he will never forget the day former Eagles coach Reid called to tell him Kelce had been drafted by the Eagles.
Kelce played 193 regular season games for the Eagles.
“It’s always been a goal of mine to play my entire career in one city,” Kelce said. “If I had tried, I couldn’t have dreamed a better one.”
Regarding his relationship with his younger brother, Kelce said, “This is where it goes off the rails.
“I won’t forget falling short for the Chiefs and the conflicting feeling of the heartbreak I selfishly had for myself and my teammates, and at the same time the amount of pride I had in my brother. He climbed the mountain top again.
‘We have a small family. No cousins. One aunt and one uncle. It was basically my brother and I our whole lives. We did almost everything together. Competing, fighting, laughing, crying and learning from each other.
Kelce has competed on Amazon’s Thursday Night Football and has been tipped for a TV career
Still, his heart will be heavy as he leaves the game he loves behind after thirteen professional seasons
‘We invented games, presented ourselves as the star players of the time. We set out to make winning games day after day. We won countless Super Bowls in our minds before we ever left the house. And when we weren’t playing, we were at the other’s games.
‘Sitting in a longchair or couch, holding a Capri Sun that mom had packed, cheering during the game and outside and then waiting to celebrate a victory together or offer encouragement after a defeat.
“There’s no way I would be here without the bond that Travis and I share. It has made me stronger, tougher and smarter and taught me the values of cooperation, loyalty and understanding.’
He also paid a touching tribute to wife Kylie, saying it’s “no coincidence that I’ve had the best years of my career with Kylie by my side.”
Travis Kelce was moved to tears when he saw his brother talking while sitting next to their parents
Jason and his wife Kylie shared a kiss as he stepped off stage on Monday afternoon
“I don’t think it’s a coincidence that I had the best years of my career with Kylie by my side,” he said. “Every award I have ever received in my life has come with her in my life.
‘She got the best out of me through love, dedication, support, honesty, intelligence and of course the occasional quick kick in the ass. She has also given me three beautiful girls in a life that continues to give me more satisfaction off the field than off it. We had a great run, Ky.”
Kelce’s retirement announcement drew tributes from across the NFL world, with the likes of JJ Watt, Tyreek Hill and Russell Wilson expressing their congratulations.
“Go ahead and get the Gold Jacket fitted right now,” Watt said of X. “Congrats on a great career @JasonKelce. It is my pleasure and honor to share the field with you.”