Jason Kelce Says Life Feels ‘Zero Different’ After Retirement, Admits He’s Still Going to Eagles Facility to Lift Weights

The former Philadelphia Eagles center discussed his NFL retirement on the latest episode of the ‘New Heights with Jason and Travis Kelce’ podcast.

Jason Kelce is taking his retirement in stride. On the latest episode of the New Heights with Jason and Travis Kelce podcast released on Wednesday, the former Philadelphia Eagles center, 36, shared he feels no different since retiring from the NFL earlier this month. He also revealed he still visits the Eagles’ training facility.

When asked by his co-host and brother Travis Kelce how he feels about his retirement one week in at the time of recording the episode, Jason replied, “Well, zero different. I’ve actually still gone down to the facility to get a couple of weight-lifting sessions in.” “You’re hilarious,” Travis, 34, responded. “I’m a creature of habit,” Jason continued. “… I feel no different. I’m assuming once, you know, organized team activities (OTAs) start up, and especially once training camp and the season starts rolling around, it’ll really start to hit a little bit more. But one week in, yeah, not much different to be honest with you.”

Jason shared he’s received “over a thousand” text messages of support from old friends after he announced his retirement, including from his former Eagles teammate Sam Bradford and retired players Drew Brees and Nick Mangold.  “Honestly there’s been a lot … it was awesome hearing from guys that I haven’t talked to, or teammates I haven’t talked to, in years that reached out,” he recalled. “You know guys that, like, you feel like, ‘I don’t even know if that dude remembers me.’ ”

Jason added that he “finally got back to I think everybody” over the course of a few days. “Yeah it’s been really nice to hear from everybody and the well wishes,” he went on. “I feel like a lot of the guys that reached out are retired guys because they know … how life-changing it is.” Jason added that former football guard and college teammate, Jeffrey Linkenbach, also reached out to him “in probably one of the most heartfelt ways I ever imagined.”

“So it was it was really, really cool to read his message in particular,” Jason said. “… But everybody from, coaches to players, it’s really hard to single people out to be honest with you it was all very nice.” The retired player also shouted out fans and new friends he made during his time at the Eagles who shared their support. Jason officially announced his retirement from the NFL in an emotional press conference on March 4, after 13 seasons in the league, seven Pro Bowl selections, six first-team All-Pro selections and one Super Bowl title.

“It took a lot of hard work and determination getting here. I have been the underdog my entire career, and I mean this when I say it: I wish I still was,” the Eagles star said in his retirement speech at the time.