Several members of the Philadelphia Eagles sat in silence and cried while watching their beloved center, Jason Kelce, retire in front of a few TVs in the team’s cafeteria.
That’s according to the NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, who shared an image of what the mood was like at NovaCare Complex, where the Eagles have held practices since 2013, in South Philadelphia on Monday.
‘The scene in the #Eagles’ cafeteria during Jason Kelce’s speech. Quiet the whole time, I’m told, except for the sound of people crying,’ Garafolo tweeted as a caption to a picture of a dejected-looking Eagles staff.
And while some fans on X, formerly called Twitter, understand the reaction, others think its too much.
‘He didn’t die lol,’ someone tweeted, while another shared: ‘Please.’
‘That’s all the information you ever need to know about Jason Kelce and the kind of man and leader he is,’ a different person pointed out.
Another user echoed a similar thought: ‘It shows the mutual respect between Kelce and the ‘little guys,” the cafeteria workers, security guards, janitors, etc. He thanked them all and he must have treated them all with dignity and respect.’
Jason announced his retirement following a 13-year NFL career during which he established himself as one of the best at his position and endeared himself to the team’s fanbase.
Jason , the older brother of Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, won a Super Bowl in February 2018, earned seven Pro Bowl selections and was named a first-team All Pro six times in an NFL career spent entirely with the Eagles.
‘I have been the underdog my entire career and — I mean this when I say it — I wish I still was. Few things gave me more joy than proving someone wrong,’ an emotional Kelce, 36, said during his retirement news conference in which Travis was among those in attendance.
‘My mother used to tell people and still says to this day, ”If you want Jason to do something, all you have to do is tell him he can’t,” and that was true in more ways than I care to admit. I relish doubters; they fuel the fire within.’
Kelce, selected by Philadelphia in the sixth and penultimate round of the 2011 NFL Draft, owns the Eagles franchise records for consecutive starts (156) and most regular season games played by an offensive lineman (193).
