Jason Kelce will be ‘tough’ to replace in Eagles locker room, says Andy Reid, as the Chiefs head coach opens up on watching the legendary center and ‘tremendous’ brother Travis grow

Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid emphasized that his former player Jason Kelce will be difficult to replace in the Philadelphia Eagles locker room.

Kelce, 36, announced his retirement from the NFL earlier this month, ending a 13-year career with the Eagles.

The legendary center, who spent all 13 seasons in Philadelphia, was a huge presence in the Eagles’ locker room.

Reid, who drafted Kelce in the sixth round of the 2011 NFL draft while still a head coach in Philadelphia, claimed Kelce’s leadership will be difficult to replicate.

“It’s difficult for a number of reasons,” he told Sports Radio WIP. “I don’t know who will come after him, but he had a big voice there.

Andy Reid (right) emphasized that Jason Kelce (left) will be difficult to replace in the Eagles’ locker room

Earlier this month, Kelce announced his retirement from the NFL after 13 seasons with the Eagles

“Not only was he a great player, but he had the leadership. He did it on the field, but also off the field, which was important. All those guys keeping everyone on the same page is a great thing. I’m sure they have other guys who can work there.

“I haven’t studied their squad enough, but the younger you are, the harder it is. Although he seemed to do it when he walked in. He actually took over the business straight away.’

The 66-year-old coached Kelce for just two years before being fired by Philadelphia and becoming head coach for the Kansas City Chiefs.

In Kansas City, Reid drafted Kelce’s younger brother, Travis Kelce, in the third round of the 2013 draft.

The coach has won three Super Bowls with Travis and the Chiefs, including the past two years.

And Reid opened up about his relationship with the entire Kelce family as he expressed his pride in the retired NFL veteran.

“I became very close to that family,” he said through Zach Berman. “Between Travis and Jason, I’ve seen both boys grow. Great players, and Jason is a great leader. An emotional player brings that out, and has done so for a long time. 13 years? That’s a long time. My hat goes off to him.

“He’s coming up as a player, an All-Pro player. Could he have played a few more years? Probably. But that body has had to endure a lot. And he now has a nice gig.

The legendary Philadelphia center was a huge presence in the Eagles’ locker room

In Kansas City, Reid drafted Kelce’s younger brother, Travis Kelce, in the 2013 NFL Draft

“But listen, I’m proud – I love the kid, and I’m proud of him for making that decision. Whatever he does, he’ll do a great job.’

Jason was instrumental in convincing Reid to draft his younger brother after the head coach expressed reservations about the tight end.

The coach was confident in his abilities on the field, but Travis’ season-long suspension by the University of Cincinnati team for multiple positive marijuana tests was a sticking point.

But Travis’ big brother Jason, who was also drafted by Reid from the Philadelphia Eagles, was instrumental in convincing the veteran coach to take a chance on his brother.

The center said Reid called him shortly before the draft to ask if he could take a shot at the younger Kelce.

“I felt like at that moment he was asking me, ‘Do you realize I’m taking this shot at him.’ I want to make sure this works,” Jason told ESPN.