We’ve known for a while that Jason Kelce would probably be retiring from the NFL. Since the very moment the Eagles’ season ended we all knew even if it wasn’t official.
That didn’t make the official announcement any less emotional.
The tears from Jason Kelce and the entire Kelce family flowed for more than half an hour as he recounted the greatest moments of his career. Kelce shared how his family impacted him throughout his career and even before his stint with the Eagles.
It was just an incredibly emotional moment the entire way. Here are the seven best moments from it all.
Getting choked up at the very beginning
Kelce could barely get his first words out before getting choked up about the decision he made. “Not a good start,” he said as he tried to recollect himself after breaking down.
This seems like a tremendous start, if you ask me.
Nobody cares more about this game than @JasonKelce. ❤️😢 pic.twitter.com/FEnllKeDtR
— NFL (@NFL) March 4, 2024
Showing love to his mom
Donna Kelce has obviously been a mainstay in the journey the Kelce brothers have shared together in the NFL. Here Jason is shoutout her out for “becoming Mom of the NFL” and being a “representative for all moms out there who have sacrificed so much for their children.”
.@JasonKelce gives all the love to his mom Donna for all that she's done.
"A representative for all moms out there who have sacrificed so much for their children." pic.twitter.com/UHTFWRgpBA
— NFL (@NFL) March 4, 2024
This was so sweet.
Sharing tears with Travis Kelce
Jason Kelce talked about the emotions he had while watching his brother get drafted just two years after his name was called.
You can see both of them getting emotional in this moment.
Travis Kelce emotional during Jason Kelce’s retirement press conference.
A beautiful moment to see Jason’s family going through this with him. He is looking at them often throughout the speech #Eagles pic.twitter.com/ieIqxDRGt4
— Eliot Shorr-Parks (@EliotShorrParks) March 4, 2024
Shouting out Kylie Kelce
In a press conference that was so full of special and sweet moments, there may not have been a sweeter one than this.
Kelce talked about the moment he fell in love with his wife, Kylie.
Jason Kelce opens up about his accomplishments alongside wife Kylie. ❤️
"I think it's no coincidence I have enjoyed my best years of my career with Kylie by my side," he said in a press conference. pic.twitter.com/rNZhOiDDeM
— TODAY (@TODAYshow) March 4, 2024
“I won’t forget the Eagles Christmas party in 2014 and heading out with my teammates to Buffalo Billiards where my life would change forever. That night, I’d meet my future wife. I still remember the moment she walked through the door. The first instance is burned in my retina. It was like she glided through the opening — an aura around her. Then she started talking and I though ‘Man. Is this what love feels like?’.”
He went on to say that it’s no coincidence that he’s “enjoyed the best years of my career with Kylie by my side.”
Amazing.
Describing how it felt to lose a Super Bowl to his brother
Talk about conflicting feelings. Here Kelce is talking about the 2023 Super Bowl against the Chiefs.
He was both devastated that he lost, but was also simultaneously extremely proud of his brother for winning again. He explained why it meant so much to him, even in defeat.
Jason Kelce talking about losing to the Chiefs in the Super Bowl and his relationship with Travis. The amount of respect I have for this man… wow I wasn’t planning on crying this morning but here we are. Congratulations on all of your success, Jason Kelce. pic.twitter.com/DN564LF7iX
— Lexi (@lexiosborne) March 4, 2024
“We have a small family. No cousins. One aunt. One uncle. It was really my brother and I our whole lives. We did almost everything together. Competed. Fought. Laughed. Cried. And learned from each other. We invented games. Imagined ourselves as star players of that time. We’d envisioned making the winning plays day after day. We won countless Super Bowls in our mind before ever leaving the house. And when we weren’t playing, we were at the other one’s games…cheering during the game and waiting outside afterward. There’s no chance I’d be here without the bond Travis and I share.”
The official announcement
Kelce could barely bring himself to say that he was actually retiring here. He chokes up the moment after he says it.
He makes it official here:
An all-time great giving an all-time great retirement speech. @JasonKelce, forever a legend. pic.twitter.com/8jNXEcrizp
— NFL (@NFL) March 4, 2024
Sharing a hug with his family
After thanking the city of Philadelphia one last time, Kelce shared hugs with his entire family here.
.@JasonKelce hugs his family after a moving retirement press conference. pic.twitter.com/o6kg5jRUHU
— NFL (@NFL) March 4, 2024
