Jason Kelce has again appeared to hint that he will keep on playing, as the NFL community eagerly awaits an update on his future.
At the Pro Bowl over the weekend, Kelce could be seen in a video signing autographs for fans when one said, ‘Please don’t retire, for the love of football.’
The Eagles center then appeared to mutter, ‘I’m gunna try not to.’
Kelce and his Eagles were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by the Buccaneers, with ESPN’s Adam Schefter reporting after that the center had informed his teammates he was retiring.
However, Kelce has not provided an update on his decision yet.
On the field at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore after his brother Travis and the Chiefs beat the Ravens in the AFC Championship, Kelce exclusively told DailyMail.com, ‘Whenever you’re around this atmosphere, man, it’s really hard to not want to continue doing this.
‘The game continues to be difficult to play – selfishly, physically. It’s a grueling sport and it has its problems with trying to play it the older you get… (but) it’s hard. It’s really hard. I’ll be honest with you.’
Kelce, a father of three, strongly considered retiring at the end of last season – in which the Eagles lost in the Super Bowl – and filmed his struggle to make a decision in a hit Amazon Prime documentary.
Following the Eagles’ loss to the Bucs, Kelce turned and hugged Philly’s offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland as the clock ticked towards zero.
He then had an emotional but brief reunion with his family on the field – his father, Ed, and wife Kylie were cheering him on from the front row of the stands.
Even at 36, Kelce is still at the top of his game, as he was named a first team All-Pro for the sixth time this season.
Nonetheless, if he does decide to step away from football, he’ll have plenty of suitors ahead of a potential broadcasting career.
