Donna Kelce Believes Football Will Still Be Part Of Her Sons' Lives After Retirement

After the Chiefs and Eagles staged their 2023-2024 comeback, the spotlight shifted fast when the Eagles got knocked out in the NFC Wild Card round, and Jason’s sideline reaction had people whispering about retirement.

But this is the Kelce family, so nothing stays simple for long. Jason was spotted getting emotional after the loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, then talking with Ed Kelce, his 31-year-old wife Kylie, and offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland. Meanwhile, Donna pointed out that football is not the only thing keeping her sons moving, because their “New Heights” world and nonstop competition schedule never really shuts off.

And if you think the story ends with one playoff exit, Donna’s version of the future just might surprise you.

The two made their comeback to the NFL for the 2023-2024 season, with the Chiefs and Eagles making the playoffs in early January 2024.

Unfortunately, the Eagles were knocked out in the NFC Wild Card round. Following Jason's team's defeat to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, reports surfaced suggesting that the center was contemplating retirement.

Earlier this month, the speculation began when he became emotional following this loss. The seasoned athlete was seen shedding tears on the sidelines after the game.

Jason was also spotted conversing with his father and his 31-year-old wife in the stands before becoming emotional during a discussion with his offensive line coach, Jeff Stoutland, on the field. The defeat eliminated the Eagles from contention for Super Bowl LVIII.

Jason and Travis’ dad, Ed Kelce, tells listeners during a radio show appearance:

I’ll know he’s retiring when he starts to lose weight.

He adds:

These guys are very health-conscious. As soon as they decide to retire from the game, they shed a ton of weight. Once that happens, you’re not coming back.

Meanwhile, Travis is currently not considering stepping back from professional football. His father quips that he'll play 'until the wheels fall off.'

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Right after the Eagles’ Wild Card loss to the Buccaneers, the mood on the sidelines turned into full-on Kelce emotion, and that’s when retirement talk started swirling around Jason.

Then Donna stepped in with the real complication, because while everyone focused on the game, Jason and Travis were still living in motion through football and their “New Heights” schedule.

Donna shared how her sons spent their football hiatus.

Here's what she said in an exclusive interview:

They are on the move 24/7, whether it’s football or something else like other competitions, and their ‘New Heights’ podcast keeps them very, very busy.

Dax Shepard opening up about childhood sexual abuse in his memoir is a similar kind of painful truth-telling.

Even Ed Kelce’s joke about playing “until the wheels fall off” lands differently when you remember how emotional Jason looked after that defeat.

And with Travis currently not thinking about stepping back from pro football, the family’s offseason rhythm, plus their Cleveland Heights podcast fame, keeps pulling the spotlight forward.

In 2022, Jason and Travis started a sports podcast named after their hometown, Cleveland Heights, where they discuss NFL topics weekly. Donna, Ed, and Jason’s wife, Kylie Kelce, have all made notable appearances on the podcast, some of which have gone viral.

Interestingly, Travis famously disclosed his crush on his now-girlfriend, Taylor Swift, during an episode of "New Heights" in July 2023.

Donna Kelce may be ready for retirement conversations, but the boys are still too busy for football to ever fully disappear.

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