Jason Kelce Ready For ‘Mental Grind’ Of 13th NFL Season

Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce says the team has enough quality to compete for the Super Bowl again next season.

The 35-year-old admits their recent Super Bowl LVII loss played a factor in his decision not to retire yet.

Jason Kelce is a six-time Pro Bowler with four consecutive nods and five All-Pro selections in the last six years.

He believes he has enough physical and mental resources to play at least his 13th NFL season.

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“I do think it played a factor,” Jason Kelce said Friday.

“I don’t think it should. I wish it didn’t. But I do think that when you go that far and get that close and it doesn’t happen, I think your emotions and energy get going, and you want to do that. You know it’s close, and you know the team is gonna be good next year as long as everybody stays healthy. We’re returning a lot of pieces on offense. So, yeah, that all plays a factor.”

Smith, Brown, Goedert, Watkins and Gainwell all return to an offense that ranked third in points and yards last season. With Jalen Hurts going from strength to strength, Kelce says they can do it again, but it won’t be easy.

“The physical part, knock on wood wherever there is, I’m in pretty good shape for a guy going into his 13th year,” he said.. “I’ve got some knee pain, ankle pain, this and that, but it’s really what you’re talking about — the mental grind. The level of attention you have to have on a daily basis to do it right.”

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“Just by the calls you make. Just by the communication that you do. To do that well requires attention in the meeting rooms, requires film study, requires communication throughout the week. And all of that takes energy and effort. And all of that ultimately on some levels gets distracted from other areas of my life. You have to really think whether you’re willing to do that again.”