What draft pick was Jason Kelce?

Jason Kelce has become one of the premier offensive linemen and centers in modern NFL history. While his brother, Travis has his own share of plaudits, the older Kelce’s resume is shaping up to be just as impressive. His sustained excellence has been anything but surprising. Now, after a long 13-year career in the NFL, Kelce has finally decided to hang up his boots and step away from the game he loves. On March 4, 2024, the former Eagles center officially announced his retirement via a media conference.

Even though he played much of his high school days as a running back or linebacker, a red-shirted freshman year at the University of Cincinnati saw him make the move to an offensive lineman. In that season, he would see action at both center and guard. His sophomore season saw him take on a more specific role at the left guard slot. His excellence, combined with Jeff Linkenback and Trevor Canfield, collectively helped the Bearcats amass a historic offensive output, en route to a Big East Championship.

The next season was just as spectacular for Cincinnati with Kelce shining as a left guard, earning his first second-team All-Big East honors. The team went undefeated all the way to the Allstate Sugar Bowl. In his final year, he finally took on the role that would come to define his tenure in the NFL - moving to center. His performance was just as fantastic, earning him another second-team All-Big East.

Regardless of his comparatively smaller demeanor, most projections saw him landing in the fourth round of the 2011 NFL Draft. Further, his 40-yard dash - the quickest for offensive linemen - would help elevate his stock. But, an appendectomy plummeted his stock in the NFL market.

Jason Kelce Draft

Today, Jason Kelce is one of the greatest offensive linemen and centers of all time. However, there was a time when the Philadelphia Eagles were lucky enough to have him fall to the sixth round of the NFL Draft, selecting him 191st overall in the 2011 NFL Draft.

His draft remains, to this day, one of the most famous and iconic in NFL history. Whether it be Champions, MVPs, historically great Hall of Famer, or perennial Pro Bowlers, the draft class was loaded from top to bottom. Its first two picks, Cam Newton and Von Miller would go on to define the offensive and defensive sides of the ball for generations to come. That is without mentioning three-time Defensive Player of the Year in J. J. Watt or a two-time receiving yards leader Julio Jones. But, the draft was as deep as mighty, with names like Richard Sherman, A.J. Green, Tyron Smith, Cameron Jordan, and others also being part of this historic class.

Once a member of the Eagles, the projection for Kelce was to follow the mold of Jeff Saturday. After impressive performances throughout training camp and preseason, he was named as the starting Center for Philadelphia. By the end of the year, he was well on his way to cementing his position as starter, becoming the first rookie in Eagles history to start all games at Center.

After missing a majority of the 2012 season with a torn MCL and ACL, Kelce made his return to the 2013 lineup with flying colors. The Eagles found themselves in the playoffs, behind a franchise record in points and yards. Behind his leadership, LeSean McCoy would find himself the NFL’s rushing leader and was recognized as the best Center in football by PFF

A six-year contract extension signaled the way for the most accolade-filled run of his career. In the first year of a sparkling new contract, Kelce missed four games to a sports hernia surgery and found himself making his first Pro Bowl. The next year saw a dip in production from the Ohio native as he finished as the seventh-best center in football. However, that turned out to be the anomaly rather than the norm.

He earned his second Pro Bowl selection the next year. However, 2017 is when he truly took it up a notch. In his best season as a pro, he would finish with the highest rating among all offensive linemen, en route to a First-team All-Pro selection. But, his success would also translate to team success as the team found itself with a Super Bowl victory over the New England Patriots.

The subsequent parade put Jason Kelce on the national map. His speech about his teammates, coaches, and front office was very passionate. However, his story was far from over. Over the next five seasons, he earned four more first-team All-Pro and Pro Bowl selections.

As a sixth-round selection, not much was expected of Kelce. But, in a recurring trend in the NFL, he has continued to defy the odds en route to a Hall of Fame-caliber career.