Jason Kelce Confirms Return for 2023
Jason Kelce is returning for the 2023 season.
The five-time All-Pro center confirmed the news himself via Twitter.
”I have put much thought into whether it makes sense to play another season,” Kelce said in his statement. “After talking it over with my wife and many other friends and family, I have decided to return for another year. Thank you to all my supporters and detractors for fueling me, I ain’t [expletive] done yet!”
Kelce, 35, actually already alerted Howie Roseman at the NFL's Scouting Combine when the Eagles GM was a guest on Kelce's "New Heights" podcast.
Terms of Kelce's upcoming 2023 deal are not yet known but the decision likely means that right guard Isaac Seumalo will be moving on in free agency with Cam Jurgens, the team's 2022 second-round pick drafted to be the heir apparent to Kelce, likely slotting into the RG position.
Kelce had told close friends on the team that 2022 would likely be his last season but the veteran had so much fun and feels that Nick Sirianni's load management has extended his career.
To the outside world, Kelce has never played better but he's often his own harshest critic and has mentioned things are tougher for him as he gets older. Kelce will turn 36 in November of what will be his 13th NFL season after being drafted in the sixth round out of Cincinnati as an undersized center back in the 2011 draft.
Kelce is regarded as a future Hall of Fame player and has not missed a game or start since the 2014 season, 139 consecutive regular-season affairs, and 149 total if you count the postseason. He was graded by Pro Football Focus as the second-best OC in the NFL last season behind only Kansas City's Creed Humphrey.
-John McMullen contributes Eagles coverage for SI.com's Eagles Today and is the NFL Insider for JAKIB Media. You can listen to John, alongside legendary sports-talk host Jody McDonald every morning from 8-10 on ‘Birds 365,” streaming live on YouTube. John is also the host of his own show "Football 24/7 and a daily contributor to ESPN South Jersey. You can reach him at jmcmullen44@gmail.com or on Twitter @JFMcMullen
