Jason Kelce Announces His Retirement from the NFL

Eagles Press Conferences
4 Mar 202441:40

Summary

TLDRThis emotionally charged speech chronicles Jason Kelce's journey from a young boy's backyard dreams to a legendary NFL career with the Philadelphia Eagles. He fondly reminisces about his formative football experiences, mentors who shaped him, and the unwavering support of his family. Kelce expresses profound gratitude to teammates, coaches, and the passionate Philadelphia fans who embraced him. He recounts pivotal moments that defined his career, from being an underdog to becoming an All-Pro center. With heartfelt eloquence, Kelce announces his retirement, leaving an indelible legacy fueled by hard work, determination, and an unbreakable spirit.

Takeaways

  • 😊 The speaker reflects on his journey from playing football as a child to his professional career with the Philadelphia Eagles, highlighting pivotal moments and people who shaped him.
  • 🙏 He expresses gratitude towards his coaches, teammates, family, and the city of Philadelphia for their unwavering support and belief in him.
  • 🔥 The speaker emphasizes his passion for football, describing the visceral feeling and intensity of the game that drew him to it from a young age.
  • 💪 He acknowledges the challenges he faced as a walk-on and the hard work and determination required to prove himself and earn respect on the field.
  • 🌟 The speaker highlights his personal growth, crediting coaches like Paul Longo for moving him to the offensive line, a pivotal decision that unlocked his potential.
  • 🏆 He cherishes memorable moments like winning the Super Bowl with the Eagles, the historic parade, and the camaraderie with teammates.
  • 👫 The speaker emphasizes the importance of belief from others, citing Jeff Stoutland as a driving force in overcoming doubts and reaching his full potential.
  • 💞 He expresses gratitude for his wife, Kylie, who has been a source of love, support, and inspiration throughout his career.
  • 👪 The speaker acknowledges the influence of his parents, particularly his father's work ethic and his mother's determination to pursue higher education.
  • ✨ He concludes by announcing his retirement, reflecting on his journey as an underdog who defied expectations through hard work and determination.

Q & A

  • What was the significance of the first day in pads for Jason Kelce when he was 12 years old?

    -That first day in pads at 12 years old at Rockboro Middle School marked the beginning of Kelce's love affair with football. The visceral feeling of the collision and intensity of the game made him feel truly alive and free.

  • Why did Kelce choose to play football?

    -Kelce struggled to articulate the exact reasons he was drawn to football, but he compares it to the inexplicable attraction one feels towards their favorite song or book - it's the feeling it evoked, the seriousness and intensity of it that he loved.

  • What important lesson did Kelce learn from his high school football coaches?

    -Kelce thanks his high school coaches for teaching him countless lessons and putting up with his immaturity, stupidity and cockiness as a young kid. Their influence helped shape him into the person he is today.

  • How did being a walk-on at the University of Cincinnati impact Kelce's work ethic?

    -As a walk-on with no investment from the team or coaches, Kelce quickly realized he had to fight harder for opportunities and earn everything through sheer hard work and determination, redefining what it meant to truly work hard.

  • What was the turning point in Kelce's career at Cincinnati?

    -The arrival of strength coach Paul Longo, who moved Kelce from linebacker to offensive line, turned out to be the biggest turning point in his career, as it perfectly suited his skills and athleticism.

  • What made Kelce's fit with the Philadelphia Eagles so perfect after being drafted?

    -The Eagles had just hired Howard Mudd, a legendary coach who valued athletic offensive linemen over pure size, which perfectly matched Kelce's game modeled after Jeff Saturday's style of play.

  • How did Kelce overcome a poor start to the 2016 season with the Eagles?

    -Despite trade rumors and speculation that he might be cut, Jeff Stoutland believed in Kelce and worked tirelessly with him on technique, fundamentals, and proper preparation, allowing Kelce to have the finest season of his career in 2017.

  • What does Kelce say about the Philadelphia fans and media?

    -Kelce embraced the passionate and demanding Philadelphia fan base, saying that if you show effort, aggression, and a desire to fight, the fans will love you. He also said the fans and media largely write the narratives based on what the players give them on the field.

  • Who does Kelce credit as the most influential person in his success?

    -Kelce credits Jeff Stoutland as the most influential and meaningful person to his success, as Stoutland believed in him during his darkest hour and helped him turn his career around through proper coaching and techniques.

  • What does Kelce say about the diversity and unity in an NFL locker room?

    -Kelce marvels at how an NFL locker room represents a true melting pot of America, with players from diverse geographic, economic, racial, and athletic backgrounds all relying on and respecting each other's differences to be stronger together as a team.

Outlines

00:00

🏈 First Day in Football Pads

The narrator reminisces about the first day of football practice in middle school when he experienced the intense physical contact and adrenaline rush that drew him to the sport. He describes the visceral feeling of the impending collision and how the smell of freshly mowed grass brings him back to that pivotal moment.

05:00

🏆 The Love for Football

The narrator expresses his deep love for football, whether playing in the backyard, on the playground, or under the Friday night lights in high school. He acknowledges the invaluable lessons learned from his coaches and the challenges faced on and off the field. He also highlights the wisdom imparted by Jeff Stallings' father about the 'easy way being the long way,' referring to the mental and physical demands of the sport.

10:01

⛓️ College Football and Brotherhood

The narrator recounts his college football experience as a walk-on at the University of Cincinnati, where he faced numerous challenges and learned the true meaning of hard work. He expresses gratitude to the coaches who pushed him beyond his limits and helped him develop as a player. The paragraph also mentions the camaraderie and friendships forged with teammates during those formative years.

15:04

🦅 Unforgettable Moments with the Philadelphia Eagles

The narrator shares a series of unforgettable moments from his time with the Philadelphia Eagles, including draft day celebrations, witnessing remarkable plays and performances, the heartbreak of a teammate's passing, and the euphoria of winning the Super Bowl. He emphasizes the deep connection he developed with the city, the fans, and the organization.

20:05

🏆 Brotherly Love and the City of Philadelphia

The narrator reflects on the conflicting emotions of immense pride and heartbreak when his team fell short against his brother's team in the playoffs. He highlights the unbreakable bond he shares with his brother and how their small family dynamic shaped their journey. He also expresses his gratitude for playing in the passionate city of Philadelphia, where the urgency to win fueled the organization's relentless pursuit of success.

25:07

🙌 Overcoming Doubts and Recognizing Supporters

The narrator recounts the 2016 season, where he faced intense criticism and trade rumors due to his poor performance. He expresses gratitude to Jeff Stoutland, who believed in him and helped him regain his form through proper technique and hard work. He also acknowledges the role of his teammates, coaches, and the organization in his eventual success, earning numerous accolades and recognition as one of the best centers in the game.

30:09

👪 The Importance of Family and Fatherhood

The narrator reflects on the importance of family, expressing gratitude for his parents' unwavering belief and support throughout his life. He highlights the sacrifices and achievements of his father in the steel industry and his mother's determination to pursue higher education despite societal norms. He also emphasizes the joy and fulfillment he finds in being a father to his three daughters and the positive influence of his wife, Kylie.

35:10

🚪 Announcing Retirement and Embracing the Next Chapter

The narrator announces his retirement from the NFL after 13 seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles. He acknowledges being 'vastly overrated' but relishes the journey of proving doubters wrong and embracing the underdog mentality instilled by his parents. He expresses gratitude to the city of Philadelphia and its fans for allowing him to represent them and looks forward to the new challenges and opportunities that await.

40:12

🙏 A Heartfelt Farewell

In a poignant conclusion, the narrator extends his sincere gratitude to the city of Philadelphia and its fans for their unwavering support throughout his career. He expresses his pride in playing his entire career with one team and the privilege of representing the city on the field. With a sense of anticipation, he looks forward to the next chapter of his life, carrying the lessons and bonds forged during his time in Philadelphia.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Determination

Determination refers to the firmness of purpose and resolute dedication to achieving a goal, despite obstacles or setbacks. In the context of the video, the speaker expresses his determination to succeed in football, mentioning how he relished proving doubters wrong and how his parents instilled in him the belief that he could achieve anything through hard work. For example, he states: "I relish doubters they fueled a fire within me" and "whenever I was faced with doubt in my career be it from fans from coaches even from my own teammates the American dream would burn from deep inside my bones."

💡Camaraderie

Camaraderie refers to the mutual trust, friendship, and good rapport among members of a group who share similar experiences and challenges. The speaker emphasizes the camaraderie he felt with his teammates, describing them as his "brothers" and cherishing the meaningful times spent together, both on and off the field. For instance, he mentions: "I will always cherish this brotherhood the relationships it fostered and how unique an experience it has been to enjoy the field with you all."

💡Belief

Belief is the state of feeling confident or having conviction about something, often in the absence of absolute proof. The speaker highlights the importance of belief in his success, particularly the belief that others, such as his parents, coaches, and teammates, had in him. He credits Jeff Stoutland for believing in him during a difficult period, stating: "Jeff Stalin no one has been more influential or meaningful to my success on the field in my career than Stout I think one of the greatest things a human being can give another is belief."

💡Perseverance

Perseverance refers to the quality of persisting in or remaining constant to a purpose, idea, or task in the face of obstacles or discouragement. The speaker's journey in football is marked by perseverance, as he talks about overcoming doubts, working hard to improve his skills, and bouncing back from setbacks. For example, he mentions: "That offseason in training camp I focused on using my hands better playing with leverage proper footwork and prepared with an edge to prove to myself that I was good enough."

💡Passion

Passion is a strong and barely controllable emotion, or an intense feeling or enthusiasm for something. Throughout the video, the speaker conveys his deep passion for the game of football, describing the visceral feelings and intensity he experienced while playing. He states: "I love football whether it was in my backyard with my brother on the playground with my friends or shiting up on Friday nights at Cleveland Heights High School I love every I loved everything about it."

💡Gratitude

Gratitude is the quality of being thankful and expressing appreciation for benefits received or circumstances that bring contentment. The speaker expresses profound gratitude to various individuals and organizations that contributed to his success, including his coaches, teammates, the city of Philadelphia, and his family. He says: "Thank you Philadelphia oh my God thank you Philadelphia from the bottom of my heart thank you for letting me represent this city and allowing me into your homes every Sunday."

💡Legacy

Legacy refers to something that is passed down or handed on from one generation to the next, often in the form of an inheritance, tradition, or reputation. The speaker reflects on the legacy he has left behind as a football player, being recognized as one of the best centers to ever play the game. He states: "I am very proud knowing where I once was and the Legacy I have left behind and the man we can all thank is Jeff Stalin."

💡Brotherhood

Brotherhood is the close relationship and support among a group of people, typically men, who share common interests, experiences, or goals. The speaker repeatedly refers to his teammates as his "brothers," emphasizing the strong bond and camaraderie they shared on and off the field. He says: "I will always cherish this brotherhood the relationships it fostered and how unique an experience it has been to enjoy the field with you all."

💡Resilience

Resilience is the ability to recover quickly from difficulties or setbacks, and the capacity to bounce back from challenges or adversity. The speaker's journey in football is marked by resilience, as he overcame doubts, criticism, and struggles to ultimately achieve success and recognition. For example, he mentions: "The Following season in 2017 I enjoyed the finest season of my 13-year career not only as a player but as a team and it meant more because of the struggles and work we had been through."

💡Opportunity

Opportunity refers to a set of circumstances that make it possible to do something or achieve a desired outcome. The speaker expresses gratitude for the opportunities he was given in football, such as being drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles and having the chance to prove himself as a walk-on at the University of Cincinnati. He says: "After my senior year ended it became apparent the NFL would be an opportunity although few teams had interest in a lineman that weighed 2880 pounds lucky for me the Eagles had just hired Howard mud a legendary coach who valued offensive lineman for their athleticism more than their size."

Highlights

The narrator vividly describes the experience of playing football for the first time as a middle school student, recalling the intensity, freedom, and visceral feeling it evoked.

The narrator expresses their love for football, whether playing in the backyard, on the playground, or in high school games, appreciating the challenges, victories, defeats, and camaraderie with teammates.

As a walk-on at the University of Cincinnati, the narrator had to work harder than others to earn respect and opportunities, pushing them to redefine their understanding of hard work.

A strength coach's suggestion to move the narrator to the offensive line position turned out to be a pivotal moment, leading to their greatest success as a football player.

The narrator expresses gratitude for the coaches, trainers, and support staff who contributed to their development and success at the University of Cincinnati.

Being drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the sixth round was described as a perfect fit, and the narrator thanks various individuals within the organization for their roles.

Memorable moments from the narrator's time with the Eagles are recounted, including remarkable plays, games, and the emotional experiences surrounding them.

The narrator reflects on the unique bond shared with their brother, who also played in the NFL, and the conflicted emotions felt when falling short against their brother's team.

The narrator expresses appreciation for the passion and urgency of Philadelphia's sports fans, acknowledging their ability to push the organization and players to persevere and perform at their best.

Jeff Stoutland, an Eagles coach, is credited with believing in the narrator during their darkest hour in Philadelphia, leading to their resurgence and eventual recognition as one of the best centers in the game.

The narrator cherishes the brotherhood and relationships formed with teammates, acknowledging the diverse backgrounds and traits that came together in the unique environment of an NFL locker room.

The narrator's life changed forever after meeting their future wife at a teammate's gathering, crediting her for bringing out the best in them and contributing to their success on and off the field.

The narrator expresses gratitude and admiration for their parents, who instilled values of hard work, determination, and belief in themselves, despite facing doubts and challenges.

The narrator announces their retirement from the NFL after 13 seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles, admitting to being "overrated" but crediting the hard work and determination it took to get there.

The narrator thanks the city of Philadelphia and its fans for allowing them to represent the city and for the privilege of being part of the community, expressing excitement for the next challenges and opportunities that await.

Transcripts

00:17

thanks for coming

00:19

guys we'll see how long this

00:28

lasts

00:41

not a good start there we

00:49

go there I

00:58

lay

01:13

come

01:24

on oh man this is going to be

01:28

long

01:30

there I lay face up in the cool

01:33

morning's Dew covered grass waiting for

01:36

a whistle I knew would come at any

01:40

second knowing full well Anthony harell

01:43

was a couple yards away on the ground

01:45

waiting for the

01:48

same the foreign objects that rest upon

01:50

my shoulders and head weighed me down

01:53

and

01:54

unbounded my awaiting

01:58

body

02:29

she

02:44

as the whistle blew I

02:47

arose turned all in one motion and ran

02:50

at my

02:58

teammate

03:02

it isn't even the Collision I remember

03:06

most but the feeling

03:09

before of what in the is about to

03:28

happen

03:33

how is it going to feel will I

03:40

win whenever I smell the clippings of a

03:43

freshly mowed

03:48

grass I am brought back to this

03:58

day

04:03

I brought back to this

04:06

day 12 years

04:12

old rockboro middle school first day in

04:16

pads I've been asked many times why did

04:19

I choose football What drew me to the

04:21

game and I never have an answer that

04:23

gets it

04:24

right the best way I can explain it is

04:27

what draws you to your favorite song

04:30

your favorite book it's what it makes

04:32

you

04:33

feel the seriousness of it the intensity

04:36

of it stepping on the field was the most

04:39

alive and free I had ever

04:42

felt there was a visceral feeling with

04:45

football and like any other sport the

04:47

hairs would on my arms would stand

04:50

up the hairs on my arms would stand

04:53

up I could hit somebody run around like

04:57

a crazy lunatic and and then get told

05:00

good

05:02

job I Lov football whether it was in my

05:05

backyard with my

05:09

brother on the playground with my

05:11

friends or shiting up on Friday nights

05:13

at Cleveland Heights High

05:15

School I love every I loved everything

05:17

about

05:18

it although I hadn't met him yet Jeff

05:21

Stalin often shares a quote his father

05:23

would tell

05:25

him more often than not the easy way is

05:29

the Long

05:30

Way football was hard much harder than

05:34

any sport I had ever played physically

05:36

and mentally in most other sports I was

05:39

bigger faster stronger than everyone

05:42

else on the football field those traits

05:45

were matched on the lacrosse field I

05:48

felt like LeBron

05:49

James on the football field I was Billy

05:53

Hoy I love the challenge the football

05:56

was the joy of winning the agony of

06:00

defeat the anxiety of the unknown and

06:03

the

06:12

camaraderie of my

06:15

teammates I'd like to thank my high

06:18

school football coaches Mike Jones Damen

06:20

creel Kahari Hicks and Gary roboli I

06:24

don't I coach Robo you know who you are

06:27

uh my hockey coaches Kurt Gunther Steve

06:29

bogus and Eddie babcox and my lacrosse

06:32

coaches Felipe Gana and Ben

06:34

Beckman I'd also like to thank my band

06:37

teacher Brett Baker all of you T me

06:39

taught me countless lessons and put up

06:41

with a very young rambunctious kid that

06:44

was full of immaturity stupidity and

06:47

Cockiness I without would without

06:49

question not be where I am today without

06:51

your

06:52

efforts with me and the countless other

06:54

children you served in my brother and

06:56

I's Hometown Cleveland

06:58

Heights

07:00

from Cleveland Heights I entered the

07:01

University of Cincinnati as a

07:03

walk-on as a linebacker I had no idea

07:06

what to expect but scenes from Rudy

07:08

would often race in my

07:10

mind it became apparent immediately that

07:13

Walk-Ons would have to fight harder for

07:15

their opportunities than the rest of the

07:17

team I had no stars no investment from

07:21

the team or the coaches I'd have to earn

07:24

everything and that's good because I had

07:27

no clue what hard work was yet

07:30

knowing that I had to earn my respect

07:32

every day made me committed like never

07:35

before in my first college weightlifting

07:37

session graduate assistant Jordan Roth

07:39

put me through the hardest weightlifting

07:41

session I had ever been through at the

07:44

end of it he said if I could walk around

07:46

the perimeter of the weight room holding

07:48

my hands above my head I could

07:51

leave um and if I couldn't hold my hands

07:54

above my head I'd have to stay and clean

07:56

the whole weight

07:58

room and that entire year I found out

08:01

later that uh cleaning the weight room

08:03

was something I would get used

08:06

to that entire year I consider a

08:09

blessing dantonio ran a tough program

08:11

the weight room was even tougher and I

08:12

redefined in my mind what working hard

08:15

actually

08:16

was they pushed me into areas of fatigue

08:18

I didn't know I had and for that

08:21

experience I am forever grateful to all

08:23

of

08:23

them after red shirting my first year

08:26

marked Antonio left Cincinnati for

08:27

Michigan State and we hired up and

08:29

cominging head coach from Central

08:31

Michigan Brian

08:34

Kelly this turned out to be the biggest

08:36

turning point in my career not because

08:38

of Brian he was great and we enjoyed

08:40

tremendous success together but because

08:43

he brought with him strength coach Paul

08:46

Longo two weeks into winter workouts

08:48

Paul whispered to me in the middle of

08:49

warm-ups you'd make a great

08:58

Center

09:02

I Shrugged it

09:03

off offensive line never in a million

09:06

years did I think I'd play that

09:10

position Paul was different as opposed

09:13

to working guys into the ground his

09:14

motto was work smarter not

09:17

harder his main goal was to improve us

09:19

as athletes and make us stronger faster

09:23

more explosive he didn't care about

09:25

anything

09:26

else once during a conditioning I saw a

09:29

teammate struggling to keep up during a

09:31

run so I slowed down to encourage him

09:34

and he yelled at me he said you run this

09:36

exercise the best you can lead from the

09:39

front it's my job to take care of the

09:42

back Paul moved me to offensive line

09:45

that

09:51

spring and it ended up being the single

09:53

greatest move that ever happened to me

09:56

as a football

09:57

player there are too many many people to

09:59

thank for my times in Cincinnati so I'd

10:01

like to limit it to coaches Paul Longo

10:03

Jeff Quinn Brian Kelly Mark Antonio

10:06

strength coaches Tim Sanger Dave Andrews

10:08

coach Carrie Colmes coach Butcher Jones

10:12

as well as athletic trainer Bob manene

10:14

and orthopedic Dr Angelo

10:17

kosimo of course all of my teammates and

10:19

Friends University support staff all of

10:21

you made my time there something I

10:24

wouldn't trade for the world some of the

10:26

most enjoyable years of my life

10:30

after my senior year ended it became

10:32

apparent the NFL would be an opportunity

10:34

although few teams had interest in a

10:36

lineman that weighed 2880

10:38

pounds lucky for me the Eagles had just

10:41

hired Howard mud a legendary coach who

10:43

valued offensive lineman for their

10:45

athleticism more than their

10:48

size having watched and emulated Jeff

10:50

Saturday in my own game it all felt Too

10:53

Perfect When the Eagles selected me in

10:55

the sixth round immediately after being

10:57

drafted my agent Jason

11:00

Bernstein said you have no idea how

11:02

perfect this is you're are going to fit

11:04

in

11:16

great come on you're going to fit in

11:19

great in Philadelphia this is your kind

11:21

of

11:26

town 13 seasons

11:31

in

11:33

Philadelphia and I look back on a career

11:35

filled with ups and

11:38

downs I'd like to thank the four head

11:41

coaches I played for Andy Reid Chip

11:43

Kelly Doug Peterson and Nick

11:45

serani consider myself lucky to have

11:48

played for each of you I'd like to thank

11:51

Jeffrey lurry for his dedication to

11:54

building an organization that values its

11:55

employees as people and gives them the

11:58

resources necessary to

12:00

thrive I've only had one

12:03

boss so I don't know much to compare

12:10

to but Jeffrey always made it a point to

12:13

show his appreciation and love for his

12:16

players on and more importantly off the

12:19

field I'd like to thank howy Roseman for

12:21

drafting me and for always working hard

12:24

to improve our team even from the other

12:27

side of the building that one year

12:31

whether it be coaches players salary cap

12:34

or the numerous other things you control

12:36

you work tirelessly and calculatedly to

12:38

improve this

12:41

organization I'd like to thank big Dom

12:43

dandro truly the life force of this

12:47

organization no one gives more time and

12:49

energy to this team at the drop of a hat

12:52

Dom is by your side my family and I give

12:55

our sincerest thank yous for always

12:58

treating us with dignity and

13:01

assistance there are so many teammates

13:03

coaches abort staff trainers equipment

13:05

cafeteria workers you guys have no idea

13:08

the amount of people in this building it

13:09

takes to assist our players and

13:12

me i' would like to thank you all by

13:14

name but we'd be here far too long for

13:17

anyone to continue listening so instead

13:20

I will share memories if that's all

13:22

right with you all when I look back down

13:25

the road I'm sure there are things I

13:26

will forget but these are some of the

13:29

things I'm sure I

13:30

won't I won't forget the call I got from

13:32

Andy Reid on draft day and my father

13:36

rushing into the

13:43

room come

13:45

on with tears streaming down his face as

13:49

his son's

13:51

dreams had just been

13:54

realized it had just been announced on

13:56

TV I had been drafted by the

13:58

Philadelphia C

14:00

Eagles and I won't forget two years

14:03

later that same

14:10

man and my brother receiving a

14:13

call and him being drafted by the Kansas

14:16

City

14:18

Chiefs this time the

14:20

tears streaming down both my father and

14:23

I's face as my brother had just realized

14:26

his

14:27

own

14:32

I won't forget the first time I saw

14:33

Jason Peters do a one-on-one pass set

14:35

with Trent Cole and being amazed at the

14:38

speed balance and power I had just

14:41

witnessed it reminded me or looked like

14:44

a grizzly bear wrestling a

14:46

panther it was so impressive it made me

14:48

question if I was good enough to play it

14:50

in this

14:51

league I watched the next couple guys go

14:54

and thought okay I can do

14:57

this I won't forget Thirsty Thursdays at

15:00

879 a bar owned by Brent celic and Todd

15:03

harmans that stayed open a whole six

15:06

months because nobody paid for a

15:10

drink poor business practices indeed

15:13

that bar may have Clos quickly but the

15:15

friendships at Forge remain open to this

15:26

day I won't forget my second training

15:29

camp walking downstairs on my leehigh

15:32

door to paramedics rushing in and Coach

15:36

Dave Cy's look on his

15:38

face and made the

15:41

expression like he had seen a

15:57

ghost

16:07

a whole lot

16:08

clearer I asked if I could

16:13

help and he said no just go to

16:19

practice come

16:21

on we had find out later at practice

16:23

that Garrett Reed had passed

16:27

away only a few hours after that Andy

16:30

addressed the

16:32

team it's the most intense moment I've

16:35

ever shared with a group of

16:36

men and the outpouring of support and

16:39

love for my

16:45

friend and the Reed family at the

16:48

funeral soon after

16:50

was truly

16:53

remarkable I won't forget Chip Kelly's

16:55

first game as Eagles head coach against

16:57

the Washington Redskins

16:59

we ran close to 50 plays in the first

17:02

half we were so tired but it didn't

17:05

matter because they couldn't stop us the

17:08

NFL had never seen something like this

17:11

before I remember all of us thinking

17:13

after that game this is going to change

17:14

the

17:16

NFL I won't forget walking out onto a

17:20

snowless field before warm-ups against

17:22

the Detroit

17:23

Lions and then walking out of the tunnel

17:25

to a

17:26

blizzard the Lions and white jerseys

17:29

blended into the snow so well I could

17:31

not see the secondary of the

17:34

defense in the second half was all the

17:36

Sha McCoy he somehow figured out a way

17:39

to cut on a dime that day and man it was

17:43

incredible to watch it was probably the

17:45

most fun game of football I've ever been

17:48

in it felt like we were all kids again

17:51

that day just playing in the

17:55

backyard I won't forget finding out in

17:58

the 2017 Rams

18:01

game that Carson Wentz at tour his

18:04

ACL the whole team had an uneasy feeling

18:08

in the locker room all of us questioning

18:11

what this would mean until Malcolm

18:13

Jenkins addressed the team he gave a

18:15

very typical Malcolm speech invoking

18:18

confidence in who we were and breaking

18:21

it down with this patented we all we got

18:23

we all we

18:25

need I won't forget Nick Foles having

18:28

the game of his life on the biggest

18:30

stage

18:32

possible and the biggest dick on the

18:34

team going up to Doug

18:37

Peterson and asking for the Philly

18:40

special and Doug Peterson having the

18:42

biggest balls in the

18:55

stadium to say yeah let's do it

19:00

and Brandon Graham finding a way to stop

19:02

Tom Brady

19:03

once literally

19:07

once and the way the ball hung in the

19:09

air on that last Hill Mary and how it

19:11

felt like an

19:12

eternity just looking no sound

19:16

registering completely engulfed in the

19:19

moment when it finally landed running

19:22

onto the field looking for a flag

19:25

anything that would mean it was over

19:29

we had done

19:32

it I won't forget the parade and what it

19:35

meant to the city of

19:36

Philadelphia The Joy it brought our

19:39

community and the closure it gave to so

19:41

many the stories from fans that had been

19:44

waiting generations for that moment

19:46

fulfilled that Triumph to another

19:49

level on the route I remember meeting a

19:52

woman with ashes of a dead relative whom

19:54

she had promised wouldn't miss the

19:55

parade if the Eagles had ever won it

20:00

a speech that had written itself and one

20:02

that had

20:05

symbolized what we had all lived as

20:07

players as a team and as a

20:09

city that wasn't my speech it was

20:14

Philadelphia's I won't forget my mother

20:17

becoming mom of the

20:19

NFL a representative for all moms out

20:21

there who have sacrificed so much for

20:23

their

20:25

children I won't forget Nick seran

20:28

sending me kegs of beer to convince me

20:30

to keep playing these last few

20:33

years he knows the key to my

20:37

heart I won't forget making the playoffs

20:39

in his first season the Super Bowl in

20:42

his next and the immense heartbreak at

20:45

the collapse of this last

20:48

season and although last season truly

20:52

sucked I wouldn't trade any of my time

20:55

with you or those teams for the world

20:59

everything happens for a reason and I

21:01

have truly enjoyed my time with you

21:05

coach sometimes the flowers get knocked

21:07

back a

21:17

bit but the roots

21:20

remain and I can't wait to watch what re

21:22

blossoms this next

21:27

season

21:29

I won't forget falling short to the

21:42

Chiefs this is where it's going to go

21:43

off the

21:48

rails nice

21:52

BR I won't forget falling short to the

21:54

Chiefs and the conflicted feeling of

21:56

immense heartbreak I had had

22:11

selfishly for myself and for my

22:16

teammates and at the same time the

22:18

amount of

22:26

pride

22:33

I had that my

22:35

brother had climbed the mountain top

22:37

once

22:41

again we have a small

22:51

family we have a small family one we

22:54

have a small family no cousins one Aunt

22:57

one one Uncle it was really my brother

22:59

and I our whole

23:09

lives we did almost everything together

23:12

competed

23:14

fought

23:15

laughed

23:18

cried and learned from each

23:21

other we invented games imagined

23:24

ourselves as star players of that time

23:30

we'd Envision making the winning plays

23:32

day after day on colar Ridge

23:37

Road we won countless Super Bowls in our

23:40

minds before ever leaving the

23:45

house and when we weren't

23:48

playing we were at the other ones games

23:52

but seated in a lawn chair or a bench a

23:56

Capri Sun in our hand that mom had

23:59

packed cheering during the game and

24:02

waiting outside afterward to celebrate a

24:05

victory

24:07

together or offer encouragement after a

24:11

defeat there is no chance I'd be here

24:13

without the bond Travis and I

24:17

share it made me stronger tougher

24:22

smarter and taught me the values of

24:25

cooperation loyalty patience and

24:29

understanding it's only too poetic I

24:31

found my career being

24:35

fulfilled in the City of Brotherly

24:40

Love I knew that relationship all too

24:45

well some people struggle to play in

24:48

this city they can't handle the booze

24:50

the

24:51

media or our

24:54

fans consider it a great blessing to

24:56

play in the most passion at Sports Town

24:58

in

24:59

America the sense of urgency in this

25:01

city to win has pushed our

25:04

organization has fueled it to take

25:06

chances fixed problems and work

25:08

tirelessly in an effort to

25:11

win at times you hate it as an

25:13

athlete especially those new to our

25:17

city but when you've been through it

25:19

enough you learn to appreciate

25:21

it no one celebrates their own like the

25:24

city of

25:26

Philadelphia athletes become demigods in

25:28

the city even ones whose Deeds Spann

25:32

decades

25:33

before the Eagles are the number one

25:35

ticket in town the most talked about

25:38

thing at nearly every moment with that

25:40

amount of attention you better be ready

25:43

to overcome the lows that will

25:46

happen and be ready to persevere in the

25:48

face of the

25:50

criticism

25:52

yes they will let you know when you are

25:54

not performing

25:56

well every

25:59

time but they will also love you if you

26:02

show effort

26:04

aggression desire the will to

26:09

fight they will love you in this city if

26:12

you love it the way you love your

26:17

brother You Will Be Loved by going above

26:19

and beyond to show that you

26:22

care because they

26:24

care they've been caring for Generations

26:28

in this town about this team and they

26:30

aren't about to accept a bunch of

26:32

excuses and soft ass nonsense

26:34

representing the name on the front of

26:36

the Jersey something they've invested

26:38

their entire lives

26:40

in if you don't like what the fans and

26:43

media are saying as a player it's very

26:45

easy love them treat them like your

26:48

brothers and go out and play your balls

26:51

off wear your heart on your

26:54

sleeve and I guarantee you change those

26:57

narratives

26:59

I remember seeing zacher shy away from a

27:02

block one day one game against vontes

27:04

Blick in the Cincinnati

27:06

Bengals rightfully so the fans ripped

27:09

him apart crushing him for doing it the

27:13

next week the first catch I saw Zack her

27:17

snag he ran after the catch like I had

27:19

never

27:20

seen it took three guys to bring him

27:23

down and I heard the link erupt with

27:26

cheers for his

27:28

effort today you won't find a single

27:31

Philadelphian with a bad word to say

27:34

about Zack Herz in the Legacy he left

27:39

behind as players you write the

27:43

narratives the fans and media for the

27:45

most

27:46

part it's occasionally

27:48

different only write what you give

27:51

them if you go above and beyond in this

27:54

city you will be rewarded Beyond Your

27:56

Wildest Dream

27:59

I saw firsthand the Wrath of the Eagles

28:01

fans in the 2016 Eagles

28:04

season and rightfully so I had an awful

28:08

start to that season where I was often

28:11

overpowered had many holding penalties

28:14

that cost our

28:15

team and looked like one of the worst

28:17

centers in the

28:20

league I was wanted out of town by

28:22

nearly

28:23

everyone and it wasn't just the fans

28:25

that wanted me to go on it was nearly

28:28

everyone in this

28:30

organization that offseason I heard

28:32

trade rumors Galore and speculation I'd

28:34

be cut I imagine if the Eagles had

28:37

received a trade offer for a brand new

28:39

set of washing machines they may have

28:40

pulled the

28:42

trigger hell if I was in charge I would

28:45

have pulled the

28:47

trigger there's only one person in this

28:49

building who still wanted

28:51

me and it's he who I have to thank most

28:54

for the career I've

28:56

had

29:03

that's Jeff

29:09

Stalin no one has been most

29:13

influential no one has been more

29:15

influential or meaningful to my success

29:17

on the field in my career than

29:20

Stout I think one of the greatest things

29:22

a human being can give another is

29:24

belief this world life it can be hard it

29:28

can challenge yourself to points of

29:30

self-doubt and that is a dangerous place

29:33

to

29:34

be well I am lucky my whole life I have

29:37

been surrounded by people that have

29:38

believed in me my father my mother my

29:43

brother Paul Longo Howard mud and In My

29:46

Darkest Hour as a

29:48

Philadelphian Stout was the one who

29:50

believed in

29:52

me he was adamant my problems could be

29:54

fixed with proper technique fundamentals

29:57

and work and work we

30:00

did that offseason in training camp I

30:03

focused on using my hands better playing

30:05

with leverage proper

30:08

footwork and prepared with an edge to

30:10

prove to myself that I was good

30:14

enough The Following season in 2017 I

30:17

enjoyed the finest season of my 13-year

30:19

career not only as a player but as a

30:23

team and it meant more because of the

30:26

struggles and work we had been

30:29

through without him I doubt any of this

30:33

would have been possible or that I'd

30:35

still be

30:36

here since that offseason I have amassed

30:39

six all Pros five Pro bowls and I'm

30:43

recognized by some as one of the best

30:45

centers to ever play the

30:46

game I am very proud knowing where I

30:49

once

30:50

was and the Legacy I have left behind

30:53

and the man we can all thank is Jeff

30:56

Stalin second Stout quote of the evening

30:59

no man is an island we must draw our

31:01

strengths from

31:05

others I'd like to thank my

31:07

teammates my other

31:10

brothers oh how I've drawn my strengths

31:12

from you

31:14

all I was fortunate to play with great

31:18

players some of the best of this league

31:20

has to

31:22

offer but it was really off the field

31:24

just sitting in the cafeteria with my

31:26

teammate at breaking bread and talking

31:29

about life that were some of the most

31:32

meaningful times I spent in my

31:35

career the NFL is truly like no other

31:38

place and at the same time represents

31:40

America as a whole like no

31:44

other fat offensive lineman from

31:47

Cleveland play on the same

31:52

field as skinny wide receivers from

31:56

Louisiana and kickers from

32:02

Chicago tight ends from

32:04

Stanford playing next to tackles from

32:07

Kilgore community

32:09

college defensive ends from inner city

32:11

Detroit play next to defensive tackles

32:14

from yazu City

32:18

Mississippi 6 foot n Jordan

32:21

matat plays the same Sport AS 4 foot

32:24

eight Darren

32:26

sprouls

32:29

The Melting Pot of geographic location

32:32

economic background race body type

32:36

personality and athletic traits of an

32:38

NFL locker room is truly

32:41

remarkable and we all rely on each other

32:44

and respect one another and each of our

32:47

differences because we know we're

32:49

stronger

32:51

together I will always cherish this

32:54

Brotherhood the relationships it

32:56

fostered and how unique an experience it

32:59

has been to enjoy the field with you

33:01

all coming to work every day with a

33:04

group of men who were driven to be the

33:06

best in the world at what they do is an

33:10

environment that will surely be hard to

33:15

replicate I won't forget the Eagles

33:17

Christmas party in

33:19

2014 and heading out afterwards with a b

33:22

a bunch of my teammates to Buffalo

33:25

Billiards where my life would change

33:28

forever that night I'd meet my future

33:37

wife I still remember the moment she

33:40

walked through the

33:43

door the first

33:45

instance is burned in my

33:50

retina it was like she glided through

33:53

the opening and Aura around her

33:59

then she started

34:01

talking and I thought man is this what

34:04

love feels

34:05

like she was

34:08

beautiful and

34:10

smart serious yet playful I knew it

34:15

right

34:16

away I think it's no coincidence I have

34:19

enjoyed my best years of my career with

34:21

Kylie by my

34:23

side every Accolade I have ever received

34:26

has come with with her in my life she

34:28

has brought the best out of me through

34:30

love devotion support honesty

34:36

intelligence and of course the swift

34:38

kick in the ass from time to

34:40

time she has also given me three

34:43

beautiful girls and a life that

34:45

increasingly brings me more fulfillment

34:47

off the field than it does

34:50

on WE we've had a great run

34:55

Kai I am a product of my

34:58

upbringing I think one of the best

35:00

things a person can be in this world is

35:02

a

35:03

father a father who was present

35:07

loving devoted just may be the greatest

35:09

gift a child could ask for in our

35:13

society and I have a damn good

35:16

one my father believed in me more than

35:19

anyone he believed in my and my

35:22

brother and whenever my own insecurities

35:24

would arise or self-doubt would come in

35:27

he would stifle them with the warm

35:29

embrace of belief unwavering love and

35:33

belief my father worked in the steel

35:35

industry in Cleveland for the majority

35:37

of his life I remember him taking me

35:40

into a plant one time and standing an

35:43

awe of the molten

35:45

steel and watching a giant Ladle

35:47

containing a bunch of it hover over our

35:50

heads just feet

35:52

away the heat radiated when the molten

35:55

steel was in sight

35:58

and I remember thinking how utterly

35:59

amazing my father's work

36:03

was he was the man and continues to be

36:06

the man and father I strive to

36:11

be my mother was a part of a generation

36:14

of

36:15

females that was largely the first of

36:17

their families to go to

36:19

college when deciding to go to college

36:22

her own father said he disagreed with

36:24

the

36:25

idea

36:27

instead uh telling her instead she

36:30

become she should become a secretary or

36:32

be a

36:34

wife in fact the only thing that

36:36

convinced him into letting her go to

36:38

college was my grandmother's insistence

36:40

that my mother would find an educated

36:42

man to settle down with and that would

36:44

mean more money for the

36:48

family mom took the opportunity to go to

36:50

college and graduated from the Ohio

36:53

University worked in banking for over 40

36:56

years climbing the corporate ladder from

36:58

teller to a VP and was largely The

37:01

Breadwinner for our

37:04

family I like to think I got my

37:06

toughness aggression and lunch paale

37:09

mentality from my father and from my

37:12

mother I learned the all too important

37:14

lesson of

37:20

never of never letting anyone tell you

37:22

what you can't

37:25

do

37:28

and so this all brings us here to

37:31

today where I announce that I am

37:41

retiring where I announce I'm retiring

37:43

from the

37:44

NFL after 13 Seasons with the

37:47

Philadelphia

37:49

Eagles and

37:51

today I must

37:54

admit I am officially overrated

37:58

vastly

38:01

overrated but it took a lot of hard

38:06

work and determination getting

38:09

here I have been the underdog my entire

38:12

career and I mean this when I say it I

38:15

wish I still

38:17

was few things gave me more joy than

38:21

proving someone

38:22

wrong my mother used to tell people and

38:25

still says to this day if you want Jason

38:28

to do something all you have to do is

38:31

tell him he

38:32

can't and that was true in more ways

38:34

than I care to

38:36

admit I relish doubters they fueled A

38:40

Fire

38:41

Within I suspect that comes from an

38:44

upbringing where my parents would tell

38:46

me Jason you can do you can be anything

38:50

in this world you want to as long as you

38:53

put your mind to it and work hard to

38:55

achieve it

38:57

so whenever I was faced with doubt in my

38:59

career be it from fans from coaches even

39:03

from my own

39:04

teammates the American dream would burn

39:07

from deep inside my

39:11

bones which leads to my

39:15

last Jeff stoutland

39:21

quote hungry dogs run

39:25

faster

39:32

thank you

39:34

Philadelphia oh my

39:37

God thank you

39:39

Philadelphia from the bottom of my heart

39:42

thank you for letting me represent this

39:44

city and allowing me into your homes

39:47

every

39:49

Sunday growing

39:53

up it has truly been a privilege you

39:56

have all been so good to me and my

40:00

family growing up in Cleveland I watched

40:03

all of my favorite a athletes leave the

40:06

city hell a whole team left the

40:12

city it has always been a goal of

40:16

mine to play my whole career in one

40:22

city and I couldn't have dreamt a better

40:25

one

40:26

and a better fit if I

40:32

tried I don't know what's next but I

40:35

look forward to the new challenges and

40:36

opportunities that await and I know that

40:39

I carry with me the lessons from my time

40:42

here and that

40:48

forever and that forever we shall all

40:50

share the bond of being

40:55

philadelphians

40:59

that's all I

41:03

[Applause]

41:25

got

41:32

I'll

41:39

you