Dec 21, 2021; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce (62) walks off the field after win against the Washington Football Team at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

Future Hall of Famer Jason Kelce recently announced his intentions to retire after the Eagles’ early exit from the playoffs, following a loss against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. This brought tears to the eyes of NFL fans, as Jason is one of the most beloved players in the league.

Jason started his NFL career in 2011 under Andy Reid. After playing 193 games, Jason will retire as one of the greatest centers in league history. However, playing as a center wasn’t always his preferred position growing up in Cleveland Heights; he played both sides of the ball as a running back and a linebacker for Cleveland Heights High School.

Despite being short for a typical linebacker, Jason excelled in the position. He also played as a rusher and averaged 9.5 yards per carry in high school. However, his talents were overshadowed by the perception that he belonged to a D2 college level. So despite his outstanding performance, Jason didn’t receive a single D1 scholarship, entering the college as a zero-star recruit. Even though he went on to play for a D1 school, the University of Cincinnati, he was a walk on the team and played without a scholarship.

In Jason’s first year, his coach, Dantonio, who asked him to join the university as a walk-in, departed for a better job in Michigan, leaving Brian Kelly as his replacement. Kelly, impressed by Jason’s hard work ethic, requested that he switch positions, as the head coach was going to use a new pro-style offense in a shotgun formation that would require more athletic linemen, as per the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Recognizing Jason’s potential, Kelly and his coaching staff believed that the youngster would be perfect for it. They were certainly right, as the positional shift earned him an athletic scholarship, making it worthwhile to play in the positions for which he had no prior experience.

The Super Bowl LII winner spent the next season in college as a center and a guard before spending the following two seasons as the starting left guard. He eventually finished college as the starting center. As fate would have it, Jason was then drafted by the Eagles in the 6th round and ended up becoming a starter in his first year.

Jason Kelce Started Playing For the Eagles 13 Years Ago

The seven-time Pro Bowler was drafted by none other than current Chiefs coach Andy Reid. Reid, like Kelly before him, recognized Jason’s potential, immediately naming him a starter in his first week with the team. He went on to play 16 games that season. Over the next 12 seasons, the NFL witnessed Kelce break numerous records and deliver Hall of Fame-worthy performances.

He became only the third center since 1970 to be named All-Pro First Team more than 5 times in their career. Additionally, Jason earned an invitation to the Pro Bowl 7 times and won the Super Bowl in 2018. He also holds the record for the most consecutive game starts in the Eagles’ history at 156. The former Bearcats star has played over 14,000 snaps in his 13-year career, but he has given up only 19 total sacks and 35 QB hits.

Even though there has been no official announcement about his retirement, it seems imminent, and, as per Jason, he won’t be dragging it out. During his recent appearance on the “New Heights” podcast, Jason expressed that he wasn’t in any position to make the announcement after the game. There were too many emotions involved. He just wants to announce it in his own way and at his own time, as it would mean that Jason would be able to pay respects to everyone who helped him in his career. He said,

“I didn’t announce what I was doing, despite what’s being leaked to the media. I just don’t think you are in a position after a game like that to really make that decision. There is too much emotion at the moment to really fully grasp that decision. I am not trying to be dramatic and continue to draw this thing out,” followed by, “It’s just something that I think you know when it’s time to officially announce in the future. It will done in a way that’s definitive and pays respect to a lot of people and individuals that have meant a lot to me.”

Jason Kelce might be hoping for a better ending than he got. He and his Eagles lost to Tampa Bay, the No. 7 seed in the league. Kelce will retire as one of the best centers of all time in the NFL and will surely be a first-ballot Hall of Famer. Not bad for a kid who was a zero-star recruit and played as a rusher in high school.

Travis Kelce has been spotted heading home from Chief's training in his $400,000 Rolls-Royce Ghost as girlfriend Taylor Swift jetted off to London.

The tight-end football player was likely making his way back to his newly-acquired mansion in Leawood, Kansas City, which boasts six bedrooms, six baths, and sprawls across 17,000 sq ft.

Kelce looked relaxed as he was snapped by photographers in his luxury black sedan after preparing for Sunday's game against the Green Bay Packers which will be held in Wisconsin.

A smile appeared across his face as he sat behind the wheel of the huge vehicle.

Kansas City Chiefs' Travis Kelce was seen going home alone in his iconic Rolls-Royce Ghost after practice

The two-time Super Bowl winner was returning to his $6 million house located in the Leawood suburb of Kansas City, which a prominent Kansas City-area medical malpractice lawyer previously owned

He and quarterback Patrick Mahomes were training for their clash with the Green Bay Packers this weekend

The Kelce brothers also added being the No. 3 most-followed overall show on Apple Podcasts behind 'Huberman Lab' and 'SmartLess'.  'New Heights' was also the top sports podcast in America and the top American football podcast in the US, per Spotify

Travis and his brother publish new episodes weekly despite their busy schedules in and outside of football

The images come as Swift was seen entering a private plane in Kansas City on Wednesday evening.

The popstar is on her way to London to support Beyoncé at the British premiere of her new film Renaissance for its second official opening screening on Thursday night.

Swift hadn't been in town long, only landing in Kansas City on Monday after finishing her final Eras tour show in Sao Paolo, Brazil.

She and Kelce then spent time hanging out with Patrick Mahomes and his wife, Brittany yesterday and this afternoon.

The 34-year-old football player and the Grammy hitmaker spent two nights hunkered down in his new home - only emerging to visit the Mahomes on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Taylor Swift's private jet is seen parked on the runway at Kansas City airport on Wednesday evening

Swift and her entourage are seen getting on to the plane, bound for London

The pop star and Kelce arrived separately at the sprawling estate on Tuesday morning, accompanied by Swift's security detail.

Kelce arrived in his iconic vehicle wearing a red hoodie, while Swift was driven to the property a short time before her boyfriend.

The two couples also spent several hours together at the Mahomes' newly-built $8 million mega-mansion last night – which features a full-length football field with his name in the end zone and his logo on the 20 yard line.

Swift then went back to Kelce's house and five hours later left his home for the airport.

Taylor Swift paid a visit to her new BBF Brittany Mahomes on Tuesday in Kansas City

Kelce arrived to Patrick Mahomes house in his iconic Rolls Royce wearing a red hoodie, while Swift was driven to the property a short time before her boyfriend

On Sunday, Kelce etched his name into the history books by reaching the 11,000-yard mark in just his 154th game for Kansas City against the Las Vegas Raiders.

In the second quarter of Sunday's game at Allegiant Stadium, the Chiefs tight end took a 27-yard catch which saw him pass the milestone and set an NFL record in the process.

He is the fastest tight end in history to record 11,000 career yards after doing so in just 154 games - surpassing Hall of Famer Tony Gonzalez's previous record of 191 games - as well as the only player in Chiefs history to do so.

Kelce's historic evening was not in vain as the Chiefs successfully bounced back from last week's defeat by the Eagles in a 31-17 victory over the Raiders.

Kelce only needed 15 yards to hit the 11,000 mark coming into the game against the Raiders

By taking a catch against the Raiders and reaching 11,000 yards in 154 games, Kelce became the fastest tight end in NFL history and the only Chiefs player ever to pass the landmark

He was already fourth on the all-time receiving yards list for tight ends and one of only four with more than 10,000 of them.

Kelce is also in the top four in career receptions and receiving yards, holds the record for most 100-yard receiving games and is on the way to an eighth 1,000-yard season - with no other tight end recording more than four.

Besides his new record, Kelce also played a huge role in helping the Kansas City Chiefs win this year's Super Bowl in February.

'New Heights' was named the No. 1 sports podcast in the world by Spotify on Wednesday

With the release of Spotify's annual Wrapped campaign today, Kelce and his brother, Jason's podcast 'New Heights' was named Spotify's No. 1 sports podcast in the world.

The Kelce brothers also added being the No. 3 most-followed overall show on Apple Podcasts behind 'Huberman Lab' and 'SmartLess.'

'New Heights' was also the top sports podcast in America and the top American football podcast in the US, per Spotify.

The Kelce duo publish new episodes weekly despite their busy schedules in and outside of football.

Kelce will be playing against Wisconsin's Green Bay Packers on December 3.