The Man in The Middle: Jason Kelce’s Return to Philadelphia
A Hall of Fame Career
In the City of Brotherly Love, Eagles fans have a great admiration for players who give their all for the team. To earn respect in the city, everyone knows that they have to embody the gritty, dirty, blue-collar work ethic that Philly is known for. Many legends embraced that role and had stellar careers like safety Brian Dawkins, linebacker/center Chuck Bednarik, and defensive end Reggie White. Opponents feared them and knew that the matchup was a nightmare. They were the heart and soul of their eras, but no man means more to these current Eagles than center Jason Kelce.
Kelce, a five-time pro bowler and Super Bowl champion, had doubts of returning for next season. At 34 years old, nobody was sure how much he had left in the tank. During this offseason, he made numerous appearances on Philadelphia Sports Radio station WIP and did not disclose if he would retire or not. If he walked away, he would do so at the top of his game, fresh off a pro bowl and first-team All-Pro selection. There was only one person who could persuade him to return to the team and that was head coach Nick Sirianni.
During one of Kelce’s guest host appearances on the radio station, Sirianni called in as “Nick from South Philly”, trying to convince Kelce to return. He even offered the beloved center a beer keg as a gift, showing his appreciation for all he has done in his career. As it stands now, it is pretty clear that the playful strategy worked, with Kelce signing a one-year deal worth $14 million. The deal makes him the highest paid center in the league and rightfully so, since he is the most dominant middleman the game has to offer. He is the captain of an offensive line that consistently ranks in the top five and contributed to the number one rushing attack in the NFL last season. Centers are often the unsung heroes of the team and Kelce is the glue that keeps the Eagles together. One day, he will find himself will a gold jacket and bronze bust in Canton, Ohio.
The future in Philly
With the one-year deal in place, everyone knows Kelce will ride off into the sunset of a hall of fame career. It is hard to imagine an offensive line not anchored by him in the middle. The Eagles drafted his potential replacement in Landon Dickerson last season, and he seems to be the successor moving forward. The line also rotates frequently due to injuries so multiple linemen can play any position on the line, providing a backup plan to both Kelce and Dickerson. Wherever he goes after next season, one thing is certain; Kelce does not have to pay for another beer in Philly ever again.