“I didn’t announce what I was doing.”
Just two days after the Eagles underwhelming performance in Monday night’s playoff game, Eagles center Jason Kelce took to his podcast to set the record straight about his retirement.
Despite widespread reporting– including on the NFL’s own social media accounts– that Kelce was done playing, he told his brother Travis on their “New Heights” podcast that he did not make an announcement about his retirement.
“I just don’t think you’re in a position after a game like that to really make that decision, I just don’t,” Kelce said. “There’s just too much emotion in the moment… I’m not trying to be dramatic and continue to draw this thing out, I’m really not.”
Kelce appeared to fight off tears as he talked about what some would say was an awful game to end a career on. “Don’t feel sorry for me, motherf*****,” Kelce said.
“When it’s time to officially announce, you know, what’s happening in the future, it’ll be done in a way that’s definitive and pays respect to a lot of people and individuals that have meant a lot to me.”
While he maintains he didn’t announce his retirement, he said Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni did give him the opportunity to address the team in the locker room after the game.
“I did address the team and pretty much said the same thing that I said to you, which is ‘I got belief in every single one of you guys. Cherish the moments you have in this league.”
Tuesday’s reporting on Kelce’s pending retirement set off a flurry of reactions from Eagles fans, recognizing the veteran as one of the team’s most loved players.
