Jason Kelce has revealed his reason for keeping on returning to the Philadelphia Eagles’ facility so often, just two months after announcing his retirement in March.
Speaking to NBC Philadelphia’s John Clark while practicing his swing at the Union League Golf Club at Torresdale on Monday, Kelce, whom NFL fans said lost weight over the spring, explained that he still enjoys hanging out with his former Eagles teammates.
‘Part of it is that,’ he said. ‘Part of it is just getting a free lift down to the NovaCare. I’ve gotten accustomed to going down there. I love going down there. It keeps me involved with it.
‘Whether it’s being around the guys, being around the coaches, my mind in the game from what teams are doing to try and prepare for this coming season. And things the defense is getting ready to do.
‘The game is always evolving and if you want to stay knowledgeable about it you have to continue to stay involved, stay around the game, stay around the guys that are in it, coaches that are in it. For me, I kind of get a two-fer. I get to be able to work and kind of poke my head around a bit.’
Kelce, who retired after 13 seasons this year at age 36, gave his phone number to one of the Eagles’ rookies – sixth-round center Dylan McMahon – as a way to show that he wants to help in whichever capacity he can.
As for his own plans, the 2018 Super Bowl champion is set to be an official member of ESPN’s ‘Monday Night Countdown’ team this fall.
ESPN announced Kelce had signed a multiyear agreement earlier this month during a presentation to advertisers in New York.
He will also be a part of ESPN’s Super Bowl week coverage.
Kelce will replace Robert Griffin III, who will continue with the network as a college football analyst. Scott Van Pelt became the host of the ‘Monday Night Football’ pregame show last season with Marcus Spears and Ryan Clark as the other analysts.
‘Monday Night Football’s’ regular-season opener will be on September 9, when the NFC champion San Francisco 49ers host Aaron Rodgers and the New York Jets.
Kelce was the most sought-after former player by the networks for the upcoming season. He participated in last year’s NFL Broadcasting and Media Workshop, which used to be known as the ‘Broadcast Bootcamp.’
Kelce is expected to continue doing his ‘New Heights’ podcast with his brother, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. The brothers are in talks to potentially bring their podcast to Amazon.
