- Jason Kelce has not yet confirmed his retirement from the NFL
- But it appears Monday’s loss to the Bucs will be his last game
- DailyMail.com provides all the latest international sports news
Jason Kelce “will always have a place” with the Eagles, Philly head coach Nick Sirianni said after Monday’s loss to the Bucs.
According to reports Tuesday morning, Kelce will retire at age 36, and Sirianni hinted at that possibility in Tampa.
‘I love him. Yes, obviously we are not yet at that position, ready to talk about that, but he is special and I love him,” Sirianni said after the match.
‘He is one of the most special guys I have met. He always has a place here and always wants him to play.”
Kelce did not speak to reporters after the game.
Jason Kelce hasn’t confirmed the news yet, but it appears his NFL career is over
His coach, Nick Sirianni, could be out of a job following the Eagles’ late-season collapse
The center, a six-time All-Pro as of last week, spent his entire career in Philly and helped the team win the Super Bowl over the Patriots in 2018.
And Sirianni could leave the team with him.
The coach has compiled a 34-17 record in three seasons and took the team to the Super Bowl last year, but the Eagles lost five of their last six regular season games this year before an early exit from the playoffs.
When asked Monday night about his job security, he said, “I don’t think about that. ‘I think about the boys. All the boys in the locker room, every one of them, have put their heart and soul into this.
‘I don’t worry about myself. As head coach, I just try to be there for our guys and our staff during this difficult time.”
Kelce walked over to see his wife Kylie and father Ed in emotional scenes in Tampa Bay
Sirianni’s NFC East rival Mike McCarthy could also be in hot water after the Cowboys lost at home to the Packers in the first round.
And now that Mike Vrabel and Bill Belichick have both left their previous jobs with the Titans and Patriots, respectively, the Eagles could certainly have options to replace Sirianni if they choose to cut ties.
Nevertheless, if this is it for Kelce, he will be truly missed in Philly after a career that will surely land him in the Hall of Fame.
Fans showered X with tributes on Tuesday morning, with one calling him the ‘Eagle of the century’.