Jason Kelce Shuts Down Rumors of Returning to the NFL

Jason Kelce is losing weight — and not looking back.

As the retired NFL star moves forward with his post-football career, he is putting an end to any “un-retirement” talk after trimming 20 pounds from his frame and aiming for more.

“They’re not going to call me to come back and play center at 260 pounds, and I’m moving on to the next thing and I’m excited to watch Cam [Jurgens],” Kelce, 36, told the Associated Press, referring to the Philadelphia Eagles’ new center. 

Kelce added, “And for me personally, my days of playing are just done and I do not foresee any scenario taking place other than maybe medicine inventing a way to get rid of arthritis that I would ever entertain coming back at all anymore.”

Now, the Monday Night Countdown star is starting a new chapter as a broadcaster — even if he still spends time at his former team’s training camp, whether it’s taking his annual family picture with wife Kylie and daughters Wyatt, Elliotte and Bennett, or offering words of wisdom to his football family.

In an emotional and enthusiastic speech last month, Kelce shared his perspective on what it takes to succeed in the league.

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“Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence — talent will not,” he told the team in a video posted to X (formerly known as Twitter) on Monday, July 22. “I was a walk-on coming out of high school. They told me I wasn’t good enough. So I got drafted and everyone said I was too small, I didn’t have what it takes.”

In June, the New Heights co-host revealed in an exclusive interview with PEOPLE that retirement had actually been on his mind for quite awhile.

“I’ll be very honest, the last four years I’ve wanted to retire at the end of seasons,” Kelce told PEOPLE.

And as for his plans this year on any given Sunday?

“I’ve played in the NFL for a very long time,” he told PEOPLE. “I have not been able to experience it as a fan for the most part. So obviously I’ll be working Monday nights, but that means Sundays are open, Thursdays are open. So I got some time to potentially take in the actual game-day atmosphere from a different lens now that the playing days are behind.”