Jason Kelce was accomplished.
Then Saquon Barkley nearly pulled the Philadelphia Eagles nice again onto the sector.
Jason Kelce had an enormous choice to make after Saquon Barkley joined the Eagles
“How about this?” Kelce mentioned. “Huge, huge signing for Philadelphia, and I’m happy for Saquon.”
Seven days after a teary-eyed Kelce closed store on a 13-year profession that ought to find yourself within the Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame, his outdated staff stole Barkley away from the Giants.
The contract was easy: Three years and $37.75 million, which was a steal by the top of the 2024 common season.
The feelings that adopted for the then 36-year-old Kelce weren’t.
He’d spent years main the most effective offensive traces within the NFL.
Now, the Eagles had satisfied Barkley that Philly was his new soccer dwelling, and Kelce’s outdated staff was about to have one of the best backfield in soccer.
“This is what I’m regretting,” Kelce mentioned on his New Heights podcast.
“I knew when I retired that I was going to miss just an outstanding season for the Philadelphia Eagles.”
‘Outstanding’ isn’t a large enough phrase to explain Barkley, who dominated the Los Angeles Rams within the NFC Divisional Spherical and will surpass Terrell Davis for essentially the most speeding yards (common and postseason) in NFL historical past.
“This is the reason why I came here,” mentioned Barkley, who has 2,329 speeding yards as an Eagle this 12 months.
GettyThe greatest operating again within the NFL has the Eagles one win from the Tremendous Bowl[/caption] Kelce has his personal late-night TV present however misses being on the fieldGettyThe oldest Kelce brother is tied to Philly and loves his EaglesGetty
“This was the best opportunity to play in a game like this.”
Kelce cried throughout his final recreation with Philadelphia.
He cried once more when he was surrounded by family and friends on March 4, and advised the world that he was accomplished as an NFL participant.
“I won’t forget the parade and what it meant to the city of Philadelphia,” mentioned Kelce, recalling the Eagles’ 2017 world championship.
“The enjoyment it introduced our group and the closure it gave to so many. The tales from followers that had been ready generations for that second, fulfilled that triumph to a different degree.
“On the route, I remember meeting a woman with ashes of a dead relative whom she had promised wouldn’t miss the parade if the Eagles had ever won it.”
On Sunday, Jalen Hurts, A.J. Brown, Barkley and extra will try and take down the NFC East-rival Washington Commanders and Jayden Daniels for an additional Tremendous Bowl look.
In the meantime, Kelce has moved into his retirement highlight, taking up a number of roles for ESPN.
Inside minutes of Barkley becoming a member of the Eagles on March 11 – only a week after Kelce retired – the previous Philly middle started receiving social media messages asking if he’d come again.
Kelce deeply thought-about the subject and started questioning if he’d made a nasty choice, now {that a} two-time Professional Bowler had immediately joined his former staff.
“You’re coming to a team that has had a legitimate offensive line established for a very long time,” Kelce mentioned.
“Yeah,” brother Travis agreed.
Kelce joked that the Eagles waited till after he retired to land a operating again just like the quick and highly effective Barkley, who spent 2018-23 with the NFC East rival Giants.
And he acknowledged that he had critical second ideas about strolling away from the NFL whereas nonetheless in his athletic prime.
Jason made it clear that he wished he was blocking for Barkley in 2024 — however he was staying retired.
“It sucks. It really does,” Jason mentioned. “I want to be a part of this so bad. I wish I could.”
Followers had Jason’s again and understood his private dilemma.
“He’s allowed to come back like (Tom) Brady and (Brett) Favre,” one fan tweeted.
“Why he talking about it like he got fired?” a second fan mentioned. “Wasn’t it his choice to retire?”
“Should have stayed, man,” a 3rd fan posted. “Saquon behind him would be lethal.”
“Don’t worry, we left a key under the mat for you,” a fourth fan wrote.
On Sunday, Barkley may make NFL historical past and attain the Tremendous Bowl in the identical recreation.
Kelce will certainly be rooting for his beloved Eagles – whereas additionally questioning what it could be prefer to be blocking for Barkley within the NFC Championship.
Comply with our talkSPORT NFL web page on Fb for the most recent breaking NFL information, unique video interviews, and the most important speaking factors from across the league.
Our devoted NFL YouTube channel ‘End Zone’ may also maintain you throughout the very newest NFL information with unique entry and our weekly ‘Rundown’ evaluate present.
Jason Kelce was accomplished.
Then Saquon Barkley nearly pulled the Philadelphia Eagles nice again onto the sector.
Jason Kelce had an enormous choice to make after Saquon Barkley joined the Eagles
“How about this?” Kelce mentioned. “Huge, huge signing for Philadelphia, and I’m happy for Saquon.”
Seven days after a teary-eyed Kelce closed store on a 13-year profession that ought to find yourself within the Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame, his outdated staff stole Barkley away from the Giants.
The contract was easy: Three years and $37.75 million, which was a steal by the top of the 2024 common season.
The feelings that adopted for the then 36-year-old Kelce weren’t.
He’d spent years main the most effective offensive traces within the NFL.
Now, the Eagles had satisfied Barkley that Philly was his new soccer dwelling, and Kelce’s outdated staff was about to have one of the best backfield in soccer.
“This is what I’m regretting,” Kelce mentioned on his New Heights podcast.
“I knew when I retired that I was going to miss just an outstanding season for the Philadelphia Eagles.”
‘Outstanding’ isn’t a large enough phrase to explain Barkley, who dominated the Los Angeles Rams within the NFC Divisional Spherical and will surpass Terrell Davis for essentially the most speeding yards (common and postseason) in NFL historical past.
“This is the reason why I came here,” mentioned Barkley, who has 2,329 speeding yards as an Eagle this 12 months.
GettyThe greatest operating again within the NFL has the Eagles one win from the Tremendous Bowl[/caption] Kelce has his personal late-night TV present however misses being on the fieldGettyThe oldest Kelce brother is tied to Philly and loves his EaglesGetty
“This was the best opportunity to play in a game like this.”
Kelce cried throughout his final recreation with Philadelphia.
He cried once more when he was surrounded by family and friends on March 4, and advised the world that he was accomplished as an NFL participant.
“I won’t forget the parade and what it meant to the city of Philadelphia,” mentioned Kelce, recalling the Eagles’ 2017 world championship.
“The enjoyment it introduced our group and the closure it gave to so many. The tales from followers that had been ready generations for that second, fulfilled that triumph to a different degree.
“On the route, I remember meeting a woman with ashes of a dead relative whom she had promised wouldn’t miss the parade if the Eagles had ever won it.”
On Sunday, Jalen Hurts, A.J. Brown, Barkley and extra will try and take down the NFC East-rival Washington Commanders and Jayden Daniels for an additional Tremendous Bowl look.
In the meantime, Kelce has moved into his retirement highlight, taking up quite a lot of roles for ESPN.
Inside minutes of Barkley becoming a member of the Eagles on March 11 – only a week after Kelce retired – the previous Philly middle started receiving social media messages asking if he’d come again.
Kelce deeply thought-about the subject and started questioning if he’d made a nasty choice, now {that a} two-time Professional Bowler had immediately joined his former staff.
“You’re coming to a team that has had a legitimate offensive line established for a very long time,” Kelce mentioned.
“Yeah,” brother Travis agreed.
Kelce joked that the Eagles waited till after he retired to land a operating again just like the quick and highly effective Barkley, who spent 2018-23 with the NFC East rival Giants.
And he acknowledged that he had critical second ideas about strolling away from the NFL whereas nonetheless in his athletic prime.
Jason made it clear that he wished he was blocking for Barkley in 2024 — however he was staying retired.
“It sucks. It really does,” Jason mentioned. “I want to be a part of this so bad. I wish I could.”
Followers had Jason’s again and understood his private dilemma.
“He’s allowed to come back like (Tom) Brady and (Brett) Favre,” one fan tweeted.
“Why he talking about it like he got fired?” a second fan mentioned. “Wasn’t it his choice to retire?”
“Should have stayed, man,” a 3rd fan posted. “Saquon behind him would be lethal.”
“Don’t worry, we left a key under the mat for you,” a fourth fan wrote.
On Sunday, Barkley may make NFL historical past and attain the Tremendous Bowl in the identical recreation.
Kelce will certainly be rooting for his beloved Eagles – whereas additionally questioning what it could be prefer to be blocking for Barkley within the NFC Championship.
Comply with talkSPORT NFL on Fb
Comply with our talkSPORT NFL web page on Fb for the most recent breaking NFL information, unique video interviews, and the most important speaking factors from across the league.
Our devoted NFL YouTube channel ‘End Zone’ may also maintain you throughout the very newest NFL information with unique entry and our weekly ‘Rundown’ evaluate present. Learn Extra