Eagles' Jordan Mailata on teammate Jason Kelce returning in 2024: 'No shot'
When watching the tears in Jason Kelce’s eyes as time expired on what could potentially have been his final game in the National Football League (Tampa Bay Bucs–NFC Wild Card), it was pretty clear that his NFL career was likely done, even if he still hadn’t officially retired. And while many fans watching that thought he was likely finished for good, there is still a small glimmer of uncertainty since Kelce has not officially retired yet.
Eagles fans are still clinging onto the small glimmer of hope that he’ll come back for one more year with the franchise. Earlier this week, one of his former Philadelphia teammates basically took that glimmer and shut the window on it. In a recent podcast with John Clark of NBC Sports Philadelphia, Eagles offensive lineman Jordan Mailata basically said there’s no chance Kelce is playing again.
“There’s no shot,” Mailata told the outlet.
More on Jason Kelce career plans after he’s done with football
Although he hasn’t officially retired from the NFL yet, Jason Kelce could be laying the groundwork for his next steps. He met with two networks in Las Vegas about a possible TV career, Front Office Sports’ Michael McCarthy reported.
Kelce recently spoke with ESPN and FOX about potential opportunities, and he could also get meetings with CBS, NBC and Amazon as he weighs his options. One source told FOS the Philadelphia Eagles center is “testing the water” regarding a foray into the TV world.
Kelce has become one of the most popular players in the NFL and hosts a podcast alongside his brother, Travis. The latter is playing in the Super Bowl on Sunday as his Kansas City Chiefs take on the San Francisco 49ers, and that allowed Jason Kelce to meet with FOX and ESPN – in between trips to the blackjack tables, of course.
The two brothers also host a popular podcast. New Heights has risen up the charts, and the Kelces recorded an episode from Las Vegas earlier this week.
Although ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Kelce announced his retirement after the Eagles’ season-ending loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the playoffs, he took to his podcast to clarify what he said in the postgame locker room.
“I didn’t announce what I was doing on purpose,” Kelce said. “Despite I guess what’s been leaked to the media. But you know, I think there’s a lot of people who can feel body language itself, you know, you I just don’t think you’re in a position after a game like that to really make that decision. I just don’t, there’s too much emotion in the moment. There’s too much going down at the moment to really fully grasp that decision.
“I’m not trying to be dramatic and continue to draw this thing out. I’m really not. It’s just something that I think, you know, when it’s time to officially announce what’s happening in the future, it’ll be done in a way that’s definitive and it pays respect to a lot of people and individuals that have meant a lot to me.”
Kelce has put together a decorated career for the Eagles after they selected him in the sixth round of the 2011 NFL Draft. He is a six-time All-Pro and a seven-time Pro Bowler as a key part of the Philadelphia offensive line. Of course, he also has a prominent role in the “Tush Push” that is becoming more and more popular around the game.
On3’s Nick Schultz also contributed to this article.