Travis Kelce gets emotional as Jason salutes him during retirement press conference
Travis Kelce was overcome with emotion while watching his big brother, Jason Kelce, announce his NFL retirement after 13 seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday.
The Chiefs tight end was seen wiping away tears under his black-tinted sunglasses during the press conference, which took place at the Eagles’ facility in Philadelphia, according to a video on social media.
Jason, who broke down in tears for most of his speech, spoke about his close relationship with Travis and their humble upbringing in Cleveland Heights, Ohio.
The 36-year-old All-Pro center also brought up the Eagles’ 38-35 loss to the Chiefs in Super Bowl 2023.
Travis sat with their parents, Donna and Ed, and Jason’s wife Kylie at the press conference, during which Jason recalled meeting the love of his life at Buffalo Billiards in the Old City neighborhood of Philadelphia after they matched on Tinder.
The brothers shared an emotional embrace after Jason walked off the podium.
“I’m retiring from the NFL after 13 seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles,” Kelce said in part during his speech. “Today, I must admit I am vastly overrated. It took a lot of hard work and determination getting here. I’ve been the underdog my entire career and I mean this when I say it, I wish I still was.
“Few things gave me joy than proving someone wrong… I relish doubters. They fueled a fire within and that comes from an upbringing where my parents told me ‘you can do and be anything you want in this world as long as you put your mind to it and work hard.'”
“Thank you Philadelphia from the bottom of my heart. Thank you for letting my represent this city and allowing me into your homes every Sunday.
Kelce said it’s always been a goal of his to play his entire career in one city.
“I don’t know whats next, but I look forward to the new challenges and opportunities that await and I know I carry my lessons from my time here and that forever we shall all share the bond of being Philadelphians. That’s all I got.”
A sixth-round pick (No. 191 overall) by the Eagles in the 2011 NFL Draft out of Cincinnati, Jason went on to have a Hall-of-Fame worthy career and won Super Bowl LII in 2018 with Philadelphia.
