Cleveland Heights Native Jason Kelce Announces Retirement from NFL

Cleveland Heights native Jason Kelce announced that he’s retiring from the NFL after a 13-year career with the Philadelphia Eagles. 

An emotional Kelce held a news conference of more than 40 minutes to tell the world Monday afternoon.

Throughout his speech, Kelce touched upon his time growing up in Cleveland Heights and his collegiate years at the University of Cincinnati. 

“Growing up in Cleveland, I watched all of my favorite athletes leave the city. Hell, a whole team left the city,” Kelce remarked near the end of his speech. “It has always been a goal of mine to play my whole career in one city. I couldn’t have dreamt a better one and a better fit if I tried.”

Kelce concluded his emotional speech by saying: “That’s all I got.” He then stood up and walked off the stage to be greeted first by his brother Travis and other family members.

Kelce made the playoffs in Philadelphia seven times, highlighted by a Super Bowl victory in Super Bowl LII over the New England Patriots. He reached a second Super Bowl, losing to his brother, and the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVII. That Super Bowl was the first one to feature a pair of brothers playing against each other. 

Kelce graduated from Cleveland Heights High School in 2006 before playing college football at the University of Cincinnati.

Both Kelce brothers will be honored on Tuesday by the Cleveland Cavaliers with a bobblehead portraying them in Cavs jerseys. 

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