Philadelphia Eagles Center Jason Kelce has said he has not made any decision over his possible retirement in the aftermath of their 32-9 play-off loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Reports emerged on Tuesday that Kelce had told his team-mates he was retiring from the NFL but the 36-year-old has said he will make an announcement on his future ‘when it’s time’.
Addressing the reports on his New Heights podcast, which he co-hosts with his brother, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, he said the emotions were ‘too high’ to make a decision on his playing future in the immediate aftermath of the defeat.
“I just don’t think you’re in a position after a game like that to really make that decision. I just don’t,” Kelce said.
“There’s too much emotion in the moment. There’s too much going down in the moment to really fully grasp that decision.
“I’m not trying to be dramatic and continue to draw this thing out. I’m really not. It’s just something I think, 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, what has led to the career I’ve had.
“I don’t think that it would be respectful or even accurate to be able to do that right after a game like that.”
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Swifties prepare tribute videos for Kelce
Kelce’s brother, Travis, has been in the headlines away from the field after his relationship with pop star Taylor Swift became public last year.
Her fans, known as Swifties, have already prepared tribute videos for Jason in the event his retirement becomes official and they have started being shared roundly on X, formerly Twitter.
While Jason’s future in the game remains up in the air, Travis’ Kansas City Chiefs travel to Buffalo on Sunday to take on the Bills in the NFL Divisional Round.
The Chiefs are defending Super Bowl champions and are three wins away from defending their crown and winning a third Super Bowl title in five years.