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Retired former Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce denied speculation about a potential comeback despite his presence at the team's facility throughout the offseason and training camp.
Kelce, 36, who is set to join ESPN's Monday Night Football coverage during the upcoming NFL season, told the Associated Press that he's down from his playing weight of 295 pounds to 275 and intends to lose another 15.
“They’re not going to call me to come back and play center at 260 pounds, and I’m moving on to the next thing and I’m excited to watch Cam (Jurgens),” Kelce said. “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.”
Kelce was reported to have "spent plenty of time around his former teammates at the Eagles’ practice facility throughout the offseason and training camp," according to the Associated Press, which led to speculation about a potential comeback. The 36-year-old was selected as a first-team All-Pro for the third consecutive season before announcing his retirement on March 4.
Kelce is one of the most celebrated players in Eagles history, starting at center in all 193 games of his 13-year NFL career, including the franchise's lone Super Bowl victory in Super Bowl LII, while being selected as a first-team All-Pro six times (2017-19, 2021-23) and Pro Bowler seven times (2014, 2016, 2019-23).