Jason Kelce Shares the Primary Influence Leading to His Retirement
Jason Kelce may have had a team supporting him, but ultimately, the decision to retire from the NFL was his alone. The former Philadelphia Eagles player bid farewell to his 13-season career in an emotional press conference on March 4. Now, Jason is revealing the main factor that influenced his choice.
“It was me—and I think that’s how I knew,” he shared with Travis Kelce on their March 6 episode of the New Heights podcast. “In past years, I would seek advice from other players, asking them how they knew when to retire. However, this year the decision felt more definitive than ever before. I realized that I may not have the physical capabilities to compete at the level I desire, and play the way I want to.”
Jason elaborated, “My elbow and knees are reaching a point of deterioration where the recovery process is becoming more challenging. While it may not have visibly affected my performance on game days yet, I am aware that it will eventually. I would rather not risk being a disappointment to myself by not performing at my best.”
Despite the heaviness of his retirement declaration, the 36-year-old is confident that stepping away was the right decision for him.