March 4 2024: A day that will be remembered in Philadelphia forever. It is the day Jason Kelce retired from the Philadelphia Eagles. Before his retirement presser began, my Brother Nick and I even received a text from Joe, a die hard Bears fan, saying:
“I’m not even a Birds fan and I’ve been pacing around my living room waiting for this to come on.”
Inside the Nova Care complex in front of reporters, staff, coaches, teammates, and his family; Kelce delivered yet another memorable and heartfelt speech.
Unlike his infamous Art Museum Steps speech given in February 2018, this one was bittersweet.
With tears streaming down his face, the sixth round pick and future Hall of Famer thanked every coach (and his band teacher) who impacted his life and football career. Most notably coach Jeff Stoutland, who Kelce credited for resurrecting his career in 2016.
He recalled memories of some the most famous Eagles games in franchise history. He mentioned the Snowbowl Game versus Detroit in 2013.
He mentioned Chip Kelly’s first game as the Eagles coach on a Monday Night against Washington, that in the locker room after that game he said that most of the team thought the same thing:
“We might have just been apart of something that will change the NFL.”
He talked about how “BG” Brandon Graham stopped Tom Brady just once, and how it felt when that final Hail Mary hung in the air for an eternity. And the collapse of 2023. Yes, he even mentioned the dreaded collapse of 2023.
It’s humbling to watch athletes retire. We watch them perform incredible feats of athleticism and strength on a daily basis, things that most of us couldn’t dream of doing. We see them as almost immortal.
Then, just like that: they become mortal and live their lives like one of us.
To this day on my phone, there is a picture saved that I took with Kelce from 2015 while out with friends at Independence Beer Garden. I like to show it off now and again, just like a fisherman would show off a picture of the prize 50 pound marlin they caught. I remember thinking while one of my friends took the picture: “Does anyone else even realize Jason Kelce is here hanging out??”
But that’s why he is so loved here. He is a man of the people. The salt of the earth.
Cemented in the pantheon of all-time Eagles and Philadelphia athletes, Kelce is the quintessential Eagle. To the younger fans, maybe even more than Dawkins. But you can have that argument on your own time.
For now, the Eagles face a Kelce-less future; and to see that future unfold will be interesting. Cam Jurgens? Nailing another late round pick?? Who knows. Time will tell.
But for now I just want to say Thank You Jason. Thank you for what you’ve done and will continue to do for the city and the Eagles.
“They will love you in this city if you love it the way you love your brother. You will be loved by going above and beyond to show that you care, because they care. They’ve been caring for generations in this town about this team. And they aren’t to accept a bunch of excuses and soft ass nonsense. Representing the name on the name on the front of the jersey, something they’ve invested their entire lives in.”
Congrats on your retirement.
thetownmile.com 