Jason Kelce tells Eagles teammates he is retiring, sources say

Philadelphia Eagles star heart Jason Kelce informed his teammates in Monday evening’s postgame locker room that he’s retiring, league sources informed ESPN.

Kelce, 36, was visibly emotional on the finish of the Eagles’ 32-9 wild-card playoff loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The six-time All-Professional and future Corridor of Famer has thought-about retiring in latest seasons, however this time it is going to occur, in response to sources.

Kelce declined to speak with reporters within the locker room after the sport, saying: “No guys, not at the moment.”

“I like him,” Eagles coach Nick Sirianni mentioned. “He is particular and I like him. He is one of the particular guys I have been round. He is at all times acquired a spot right here.”

Kelce performed this season on a one-year contract and was set to turn into a free agent in March.

A sixth-round draft choice in 2011, Kelce has performed his complete 13-year profession with the Eagles and has been one of many key leaders for a staff that has made six postseason appearances and two Tremendous Bowl journeys over the previous seven seasons.

“He is a legend within the metropolis — actually within the league,” Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts mentioned. “I do not need to do a disservice to him and the issues he is been capable of do and overcome. His journey to the place he’s now did not come straightforward. It has been a protracted, very long time coming for him, and yearly since I have been right here, it has been, ‘Are you going to come back again?’

“However he is aware of how a lot I like and respect him. He is aware of how a lot I’ve realized from him. He’ll eternally have a particular place in my coronary heart.”

Eagles proper deal with Lane Johnson informed reporters that Kelce has “hinted” to teammates that this may be his last season.

“I like him. He is the most effective to ever play the sport,” Johnson mentioned. “The issues he can do on the soccer subject athletically — I do not assume we’ll see one other one like him for a very long time.”

Kelce is the fifth heart in NFL historical past with at the very least six All-Professional alternatives. The opposite 4 — Jim Otto, Bulldog Turner, Dermontti Dawson, Jim Ringo — are all within the Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame.

ESPN’s Tim McManus contributed to this report.