Crying Jason Kelce almost unretired when Eagles signed Saquon Barkley
Jason Kelce was done. Then Saquon Barkley almost pulled the Philadelphia Eagles great back onto the field. “How about this?” Kelce said. “Huge, huge signing for Philadelphia, and …
Jason Kelce was done.
Then Saquon Barkley almost pulled the Philadelphia Eagles great back onto the field.
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Jason Kelce had a huge decision to make after Saquon Barkley joined the Eagles
"How about this?" Kelce said. "Huge, huge signing for Philadelphia, and I'm happy for Saquon."
Seven days after a teary-eyed Kelce closed shop on a 13-year career that should end up in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, his old team stole Barkley away from the Giants.
The contract was simple: Three years and $37.75 million, which was a steal by the end of the 2024 regular season.
The emotions that followed for the then 36-year-old Kelce were not.
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He’d spent years leading one of the best offensive lines in the NFL.
Now, the Eagles had convinced Barkley that Philly was his new football home, and Kelce’s old team was about to have the best backfield in football.
"This is what I'm regretting," Kelce said on his New Heights podcast.
"I knew when I retired that I was going to miss just an outstanding season for the Philadelphia Eagles."
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‘Outstanding’ isn’t a big enough word to describe Barkley, who dominated the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Divisional Round and could surpass Terrell Davis for the most rushing yards (regular and postseason) in NFL history.
“This is the reason why I came here,” said Barkley, who has 2,329 rushing yards as an Eagle this year.
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The best running back in the NFL has the Eagles one win from the Super BowlCredit: Getty
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Kelce has his own late-night TV show but misses being on the fieldCredit: Getty
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The oldest Kelce brother is tied to Philly and loves his EaglesCredit: Getty
“This was the best opportunity to play in a game like this.”
Kelce cried during his last game with Philadelphia.
He cried again when he was surrounded by friends and family on March 4, and told the world that he was done as an NFL player.
"I won't forget the parade and what it meant to the city of Philadelphia,” said Kelce, recalling the Eagles’ 2017 world championship.
“The joy it brought our community and the closure it gave to so many. The stories from fans that had been waiting generations for that moment, fulfilled that triumph to another level.
“On the route, I remember meeting a woman with ashes of a dead relative whom she had promised wouldn't miss the parade if the Eagles had ever won it.”
On Sunday, Jalen Hurts, A.J. Brown, Barkley and more will attempt to take down the NFC East-rival Washington Commanders and Jayden Daniels for another Super Bowl appearance.
Meanwhile, Kelce has moved into his retirement spotlight, taking on a variety of roles for ESPN.
Within minutes of Barkley joining the Eagles on March 11 – just a week after Kelce retired – the former Philly center began receiving social media messages asking if he’d come back.
Kelce deeply considered the topic and began wondering if he'd made a bad decision, now that a two-time Pro Bowler had suddenly joined his former team.
"You're coming to a team that has had a legitimate offensive line established for a very long time," Kelce said.
"Yeah," brother Travis agreed.
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Kelce joked that the Eagles waited until after he retired to land a running back like the fast and powerful Barkley, who spent 2018-23 with the NFC East rival Giants.
And he acknowledged that he had serious second thoughts about walking away from the NFL while still in his athletic prime.
Jason made it clear that he wished he was blocking for Barkley in 2024 -- but he was staying retired.
"It sucks. It really does," Jason said. "I want to be a part of this so bad. I wish I could."
Fans had Jason's back and understood his personal dilemma.
"He’s allowed to come back like (Tom) Brady and (Brett) Favre," one fan tweeted.
"Why he talking about it like he got fired?" a second fan said. "Wasn’t it his choice to retire?"
"Should have stayed, man," a third fan posted. "Saquon behind him would be lethal."
"Don’t worry, we left a key under the mat for you," a fourth fan wrote.
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On Sunday, Barkley could make NFL history and reach the Super Bowl in the same game.
Kelce will surely be rooting for his loved Eagles – while also wondering what it would be like to be blocking for Barkley in the NFC Championship.
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