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Fans and media react to Jason Kelce's emotional retirement press conference

jack mckessy, usa today
·4-min read
January 21, 2024: Jason Kelce reacts after the Kansas City Chiefs score against the Buffalo Bills during the first half for the 2024 AFC divisional round game at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, N.Y.
January 21, 2024: Jason Kelce reacts after the Kansas City Chiefs score against the Buffalo Bills during the first half for the 2024 AFC divisional round game at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, N.Y.

A visibly emotional Jason Kelce held a press conference on Monday afternoon in which he announced his retirement from the NFL.

Rumors of Kelce's retirement swirled since early January, immediately following the Philadelphia Eagles' wild card round loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. According to reports at the time, the center told his teammates in the locker room after the game that he planned to retire.

Now, the center has made it official.

Kelce spent the entirety of his 13-year career in Philadelphia, where he also set an Eagles franchise record for most consecutive starts: 157. He never missed a game after 2014, when he underwent surgery for a sports hernia and missed four games.

With his durability at a physically demanding position, performance on the field and community contributions off of it, Kelce cemented his legacy as a sure-fire Hall of Famer.

Here's how fans and members of football media reacted to Kelce's Monday announcement.

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Jason Kelce age

Kelce is 36 years old.

Jason Kelce stats

Over his 13-year career, Kelce won a Super Bowl, earned six first-team All-Pro nods, was a Pro Bowler seven times and established himself as one of the greatest offensive linemen of his generation.

The 36 year old is tied for 27th in NFL history with his six first-team All-Pro selections. Only two retired players ever have that many All-Pro nods and are not in the Hall of Fame: Jim Tyrer, who killed his wife then himself in 1980, and Shane Lechler, who is a punter.

At the end of the 2023 season, Kelce's 157 consecutive regular season starts made him No. 2 on the active leaderboard for consecutive starts. Only Atlanta Falcons offensive tackle Jake Matthews (161) has more.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jason Kelce's retirement sets off wave of fan and media reactions