This Monday, Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce announced his retirement in an emotional speech at the conference.
About two months ago, the news of Kelce retiring from the NFL sparked, though it was not officially confirmed at the time by the player. But just a day ago, Kelce himself tweeted about his retirement announcement that he would be addressing at the conference.
Jason Kelce, 36, did not only make himself a great career as a footballer in Philadelphia, but he also made himself a name as a popular podcast host and is known for a great personality.
The conference held in the Eagles' NovaCare Complex was to let Kelce announce his retirement officially to his fans and let them know that he was leaving the game of football.
It took Kelce 40 minutes to recount his journey of landing as a footballer in the city of Philadelphia from his childhood in Ohio while sharing all the important highlights of his life in between.
Kelce's speech keynotes
He started his speech with, “Let’s see how long this lasts” and continued on, recalling the day he got drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles.
Before announcing his retirement, Kelce recounted the bittersweet memory of his journey and thanked the people in his life who had an influence over it.
While speaking about the fans of Philadelphia and their passion for watching the Eagles win, he said that he takes it as a great blessing to play in the town, which is the most passionate sports town in America.
At the same time, he confessed that while at times you can hate the constant urge of the city fans to see you win as an athlete, in the long run, it helps you stay accountable in the game in Philadelphia and it helps you keep your perseverance through the low points.
Next, he recalled the nighttime phone call his father had received years ago, which announced him being drafted in Philadelphia. He said that his father ran into the room with tears in his eyes out of happiness at realizing that his son’s dream had just been realized.
He also shared how he himself got teary-eyed with his father two years later, when his brother, Travis Kelce, also got drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs.
Kelce recalled how the game of football strengthened his bond with his brother Travis. He also shared their heart-wrenching loss to the Chiefs in Super Bowl LVII, which was only relieved by the feeling of pride he felt for seeing his brother climb the mountain again through their win.
At the end, the Philadelphia Eagles center thanked his wife, Kylie Kelce, for being in his life. He shared the night when he first met her and how it changed his life forever.
He stated,
I have enjoyed my best years of my career with Kylie by my side. Every accolade I have ever received has come with her in my life. She has brought the best out of me through love, devotion, support.
The conference held at the Eagles' NovaCare Complex was attended by his parents, Ed and Donna, and his brother Travis Kelce, who also got teary-eyed while he sat there wearing sunglasses.
Eagles coach Nick Sirianni also attended the event.
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