Jason Kelce Shuts Down Any Possibility of NFL Return

When longtime Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce retired from football following the 2023-24 NFL season, he was still one of the top-performing centers in the league. But just over one year later, it does not sound like he's in any position to play football again.

During the most recent episode of his New Heights podcast with his brother Travis, Jason opened up a little bit about his body transformation since retiring from the NFL, revealing that he has lost about 30 pounds.

“I’m about 270 right now, I think,” Jason told his brother.

At this, Travis suggested that his brother could return to the NFL and play tight end like him.

“270?! That’s what I played last year. You could play tight end,” his brother, Travis, 35, replied.

However, Jason Kelce had some telling comments about how his body has started failing him physically since retiring from the NFL.

“Can’t, no, my ankles and knees and back won’t let me. It’s getting bad,” Jason said. “I don’t know if it’s the moment you retire mentally, your body retires too, physically, because I am just [struggling]. I’m trying to lift weights. I keep straining muscles.”

“My ankle [from] playing golf last week is inflamed. I can’t squat now because my ankle hurts,” Jason added.

Obviously, Jason played a rather physically demanding position throughout his NFL career where he had to make heavy contact against another big and strong player every single snap. Clearly, that took a toll on him physically.

Now that he's retired, it's clear that his body is in no condition to return.

These comments from Jason are telling as they show just how physically demanding the game truly is and how difficult it is for a player to come out of retirement after walking away from the game.