Eagles

Jason Kelce Retirement or Not-Retirement: More Ambiguity

By Kevin Kinkead

Published: Feb 6th, 2024 · 9:16 AM EST

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A couple of Jason Kelce bits, one from the Pro Bowl and the other from Super Bowl media day:

“Please don’t retire”

“I’m gonna try not to.” – Jason Kelce pic.twitter.com/vUTwxF4Exx

— Crossing Broad (@CrossingBroad) February 6, 2024

Travis Kelce thinks Jason still has some football left in him pic.twitter.com/48TLnrcLtM

— Crossing Broad (@CrossingBroad) February 6, 2024

“I’m gonna try not to” is uber-ambiguous. What does that even mean? Either do, or do not. There is no “try.” That’s what Yoda said back in the 1980s.

Here’s what Travis Kelce said when asked if Jason “plays in that Brazil game” –

“I think so. I don’t know. I’m not a betting man, but I think he’s got some football left in him… I’m gonna leave that up to him.”

My take: Kelce is on the fence about coming back and it’s turning out to be a tough decision. Initially, it seems like he was ready to hang ’em up, but that’s easier said than done. I could be completely wrong, but when you get opaque language like this, that’s typically the case. Plus, you had Kelce respond to the Adam Schefter retirement report with this:

“I didn’t announce what I was doing on purpose despite what’s been leaked to the media. People can kind of feel body language and stuff… I just don’t think you’re in position after a game like that to really make that decision. There’s too much emotion in the moment. There’s too much going down in 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 when it’s time to officially announce what’s happening in the future, it will be done in a way that is definitive and pays respect to a lot of people and individuals that have meant a lot to me and what has led to the career I had. And I don’t think it would be respectful or even accurate to be able to do that right after a game like that. Frustrated I guess at kind of everything that’s happening, but in the future there will be something said I guess. But I did address the team and pretty much said to you that ‘I got belief in every single one of you guys. Cherish the moments you have in this league.’”

Sounds like a guy who knows it’s time to retire, but just hasn’t accepted it yet. It’s the impression that I get.