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Kylie Kelce, the wife of former Philadelphia Eagles All-Pro center Jason Kelce, revealed that her husband contemplated retirement and prepared his speech "over the last four years" before his official announcement on Monday (March 4).
“This was a completely different version,” Kylie said Jason's speech in which he reflected on his legendary 13-year NFL career during an exclusive interview with NBC 10 Philadelphia. “I think every year he sort of started from scratch as to what was sitting on the surface. But when he said that he was contemplating retirement ‘for years,’ he means ‘for years.”‘
Jason included numerous relatives, friends, teammates, coaches and colleagues during his more than 40-minute retirement speech and acknowledged that it was "no coincidence that I have enjoyed my best years of my career with Kylie by my side."
"Every accolade I have ever received has come with her in my life,” Jason said of Kylie, with whom he shares three young daughters. “She has brought the best out of me through love, devotion, support, honesty, intelligence, and of course, a swift kick in the a** from time to time.”
Kelce officially announced his retirement after 13 seasons with the Eagles. The Ohio native is one of the most celebrated players in franchise history, starting at center in all 193 games of his 13-year NFL career, including the franchise's lone Super Bowl victory in Super Bowl LII, while being selected as a first-team All-Pro six times (2017-19, 2021-23) and Pro Bowler seven times (2014, 2016, 2019-23).
In January, Kelce, spoke with the Philadelphia Inquirer's Olivia Reiner while attending the Chiefs' AFC Championship Game in support of his brother and acknowledged that he still hadn't decided on retirement but plans to continue being "involved" in the Eagles organization.
"I don’t know what’s going to happen for me. But I do know, I still want to be involved in the organization and still want to be a part of it, regardless of what the decision is. Because I don’t want to ever feel like I’m on the outside looking in on these achievements and these accolades and these opportunities that largely represent entire cities and fan bases and organizations. It’s too good a feeling to pass up,” Kelce said.
Jason had previously addressed reports that he plans to retire during an episode of 'New Heights', clarifying that he did address his teammates after the Eagles' Wild Card Round loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but hadn't yet made an official decision on his future.
“I didn’t announce what I was doing on purpose, despite, I guess, what’s been leaked to the media,” he said “… I just don’t think you’re in a position after a game like that to really make that decision, I just don’t, there’s too much emotion in the moment, there’s too much going down in the moment to really fully grasp that decision.”
“When it’s time to officially announce 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 and what has led to the career I’ve had, and I don’t think it would be respectful or even accurate to be able to do that right after a game like that,” he added. “Frustrated, I guess, at everything that’s happening, but in the future there will be something said, I guess, but I did address the team and pretty much said the same thing I just said to you, which is I got belief in every single one of you guys, cherish the moments you have in this league, I think it’s kind of the way it went down.”