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Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce has announced that he's going to return to the team for another season right at the start of the tampering period. The veteran player announced his decision on his Twitter account:
Kelce, 35, will play his 13th season in the league - all with the Philadelphia Eagles. He was drafted by the team in the 6th round of the 2011 NFL Draft and has consistently been one of the greatest offensive linemen in the league.
The center, who's the older brother of Kansas City Chiefs All-Pro tight end Travis Kelce, was voted to six Pro Bowls during his career and was also a First-Team All-Pro five times. A leader in the Eagles' locker room, he's also known for his speech following Philadelphia's Super Bowl win in 2018:
With the move, the veteran center remains the anchor of the league's best offensive line of the 2022 season. The Eagles are expected to lose guard Isaac Seumalo to free agency.
Jason Kelce returns for 2023 season with Philadelphia Eagles
The veteran center has been Philadelphia's biggest leader for a long time now. He has also flirted with retirement for several seasons, but the Eagles have been able to keep him for now.
Kelce is not a common center. He's smaller than the average player at the position, but his athleticism allows him to reach the second level quickly while holding bigger defensive linemen due to his functional strength. His technique allows him to play bigger than his size.
For him to return for another season is a huge deal for the Philadelphia Eagles. The team is set to lose a ton of important players to free agency and they don't have enough cap space to retain all the stars from the previous Super Bowl run. Giving a new contract to Seumalo is off the table - he's going to receive a big contract as a free agent.
Keeping one of their biggest leaders is a huge win for the team, especially as he remains at a high level even though his age has hit the wrong side of his 30s. He still has a lot of football left in him.
