WEIGHT OF PLAY
Jason Kelce dismisses unretirement speculation despite his body transformation after dropping 20lbs in off-season
Kelce has a new venture lined up for Week 1
FORMER NFL star Jason Kelce is adamant he will not return to the field.
The legendary Philadelphia Eagles center retired in an emotional press conference at the end of the 2023 season.
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He has been keeping busy since with his New Heights podcast taking off and a career in television beckoning.
Kelce, 36, has been a regular at the Eagles' practice facility, leading to claims he could reverse his decision.
But the former lineman told the Associated Press he won't be able to play after shedding 20lbs so far as he looks to drop from 295lbs to 260lbs.
"They’re not going to call me to come back and play center at 260, and I’m moving on to the next thing," Kelce explained before talking up replacement Cam Jurgens.
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"I’m excited to watch Cam. I really think Cam is going to be tremendous this year.
"He’s going to really show people how great of a player he is.
"He was good for us last year at right guard and he’s going to flourish at center.
"And for me personally, my days of playing are just done and I do not foresee any scenario taking place other than maybe medicine inventing a way to get rid of arthritis that I would ever entertain coming back at all anymore."
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Kelce has joined ESPN's Monday Night Football coverage as an analyst.
He will make his debut as Aaron Rodgers and the New York Jets head to California to face the San Francisco 49ers.
Jason Kelce’s outfit features subtle Olympics nod during surprise appearance in new gig on ESPN’s NFL Countdown
Week 2 will see Kelce call an Eagles game when they host the Atlanta Falcons.
And he will also travel to Kansas City to cover brother Travis in action as the Chiefs welcome the New Orleans Saints to Arrowhead Stadium.
In the meantime, he has been hitting the gym at his former home.
"He just won't go home, man," former teammate Landon Dickerson joked to CBS.
'It was a short retirement!'
Jason Kelce didn't stay retired in the NFL for long.
The former Philadelphia Eagles lineman called it quits after the 2023 season.
But he will be part of ESPN's coverage on Monday Night Football in 2024.
Kelce will appear on Monday Night Countdown from 6pm-8pm ET every week as well as during the halftime show.
“Turns out, it was a short retirement!" he joked.
"ESPN was a consistent presence in our household growing up and the network helped shape who I am and my love of all sports.
"To now appear on that same screen is a full circle moment.
"And, I mean it’s freaking Monday Night Football! and I’m ready for some football."
"I'm kidding. It's great to have him around.
"He's obviously loved around this building by every single person.
"He's always welcome out here with (wife) Kylie and his kids.
"Having him around as a resource to ask questions to as a guy who's done it for so long at such levels successfully, he's always a great resource to have because I think he's the best to ever do it."
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Kelce's broadcast debut is set to be overshadowed by Tom Brady's first appearance in the Fox Sports booth.
The NFL was forced to delete a post on X that had fans mistakenly thinking Brady was making his debut at the weekend.