Jason Kelce is one of the best centers in NFL history. The Philadelphia Eagles offensive lineman is right up there with Jim Langer, Jim Otto, or Mike Webster, and his name will almost certainly join those legends in the Hall of Fame in 2029.
Kelce's career leaves no doubt that he is material for the immortals' compound. Although he was selected in the sixth round of the 2011 Draft, number 191 overall, Jason hard-earned the starting job, being the most faithful guardian of five starting quarterbacks and at least three backups.
His performance in the middle of the offensive line earned him six First Team All-Pro nominations, he was called to the Pro Bowl seven times, and he played in two Super Bowls, of which he won the LII.
It is noteworthy that centers are often the unsung heroes of the NFL. Other than hardcore fans, few know the name of their team's center. Despite this, Kelce is one of the best-known faces and names in the NFL, even outside football circles.
The rules of induction into the Hall of Fame
In principle, the only requirement for a player to be nominated to the Hall of Fame is that five years have passed since his retirement; in the case of Kelce, who just this Monday announced his retirement, the deadline will be met in 2029.
The following steps in the process become more complicated. Nomination requires any person to send a letter to the Selection Committee requesting the nomination of the player, coach, or contributor. The committee itself can also nominate any player from the modern era.
That's just where the selection process begins. Usually, the committee receives around 120 nominations each year, and, in a first vote, it reduces this number to 25. In a second round, it reduces the list to 15 finalists, and from there, it is further reduced to 10 and then to five.
The process takes just under a year, as each voting round is preceded by a long analysis to determine the candidates' merits. In the end, the Committee votes to decide whether the final five finalists have enough track record to be enthroned.
Kelce's possibilities
Analysts agree that the Eagles center is a solid candidate not only to enter the Hall of Fame but to do so in his first year of eligibility. His achievements on and off the gridiron are equal to or even better than those of any current members.
So far, there are only seven centers inducted in the Canton, Ohio, campus, and of these, only Mike Webster and Jim Langer have won a Super Bowl. Langer himself and Otto have been the only centers to enter the Hall of Fame on their first attempt, and there is no doubt that if anyone can match this unofficial achievement, it is Jason Kelce.
He played college football for the Cincinnati Bearcats and was selected by the Eagles in the sixth round of the 2011 NFL draft. Kelce won Super Bowl LII, was a seven-time Pro Bowl selection, and six-time first-team All-Pro selection. Kelce is often regarded as one of the greatest centers in NFL history.
Kelce and the Eagles downed the New England Patriots 41-33 in Super Bowl LII to give Philly its first NFL championship. Kelce is remembered for delivering a passionate speech dressed in full Mummers garb on the steps of the Philadelphia Art Museum during the team's Super Bowl parade.
Kelce cited his health and increasing physical challenges as some of the factors that led to his retirement decision. "If I go out there and I'm not the player that I want to be, it'll crush me. So, I feel very confident in the decision I made. I know that it's time, I've had a really good run," he said at the time.
The only center to earn six First-Team All-Pro honors and win a Super Bowl title, Kelce solidified his Hall of Fame status when he earned his final All-Pro selection in his final season, separating him from many of the all-time greats at his position.
Rest in peace, Jason Kelce's Super Bowl ring. The former Philadelphia Eagles center revealed he officially lost his ring from when his team beat the New England Patriots in Super Bowl 52 when he and his brother, Travis Kelce, did a live show of their podcast "New Heights."
"We have still yet to find it," the former Eagles player said. "All of this stuff has been thrown away, so I think we can safely assume that my Super Bowl ring is now in a landfill, someplace in the Cincinnati Tri-State area," Jason added.
Jason Kelce is one of the best centers in NFL history. The Philadelphia Eagles offensive lineman is right up there with Jim Langer, Jim Otto, or Mike Webster, and his name will almost certainly join those legends in the Hall of Fame in 2029.
Jason Kelce will have a base salary of 1,165,000 dollars in 2023, with a signing bonus of 10,130,000. His deal for 2023 to 2024 guaranteed him an average annual salary of nine million dollars. Jason Kelce has career NFL salary earnings of over 80 million dollars in his 11 years with the Eagles.
Jason Kelce has a new job. ESPN officially announced on Tuesday that the Eagles great will be joining the network's Monday Night Football coverage as an in-studio analyst on its pregame show after signing a multi-year deal.
Before Travis Kelce struck up a high profile romance with singer Taylor Swift, the Kansas City Chiefs tight end was in a relationship with content creator Kayla Nicole. Nicole and Kelce starting dating in 2017. The tight end then revealing in a 2023 interview with The Pivot that the two had split.
Jason Kelce is one of the best centers in NFL history. The Philadelphia Eagles offensive lineman is right up there with Jim Langer, Jim Otto, or Mike Webster, and his name will almost certainly join those legends in the Hall of Fame in 2029.
Consistently one of the best centers in football for over a decade now, Kelce has dominated as a run blocker throughout his career. His PFF run-blocking grade hasn't dipped below 70.0 since his rookie season back in 2011 and hasn't been below 79.0 since 2015.
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Introduction: My name is Maia Crooks Jr, I am a homely, joyous, shiny, successful, hilarious, thoughtful, joyous person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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