Jason on Retirement, Travis Down Under and Flaming Tables | Ep 80
Summary
TLDRIn this heartfelt episode, Jason Kelce announces his retirement from professional football, sparking a mix of emotions. With a career spanning 13 years with the Philadelphia Eagles, Kelce reflects on his journey, achievements, and the indelible mark he's left on the team and its fans. Through laughter and tears, he shares memorable anecdotes, thanks those who've shaped his career, and contemplates his future. The episode also features special messages from teammates, family, and notable figures, celebrating Kelce's legacy and impact. As he closes this chapter, Kelce's contribution to the sport and his transition into retirement take center stage, leaving a lasting impression on all who've witnessed his remarkable career.
Takeaways
- ๐ Jason Kelsey announces his retirement from the Philadelphia Eagles, reflecting on his career, achievements, and the decision to retire.
- ๐ฃ๏ธ In his retirement speech, Kelsey shares heartfelt messages about his teammates, coaches, and his journey in the NFL, emphasizing the importance of those who supported him.
- ๐ฅ Numerous figures from the football world, including teammates and competitors, send Kelsey congratulatory messages and express their admiration for his career.
- ๐จโ๐ฉโ๐งโ๐ฆ Kelsey expresses his eagerness to spend more time with his family and to embark on new adventures post-retirement.
- ๐ช He discusses the physical toll of playing in the NFL and his desire to focus on his health and well-being moving forward.
- ๐ Despite retirement, Kelsey plans to remain connected to the sport, contemplating ways he can contribute off the field.
- ๐ฆ Reflecting on his time with the Eagles, Kelsey talks about the significance of playing for one team throughout his career and the special bond he shares with the city of Philadelphia.
- ๐ค He highlights the role of his offensive line coach, Jeff Stoutland, in his development and success as a player.
- ๐ Kelsey shares light-hearted moments from his career, including the infamous 'big dick Nick' joke from his speech.
- ๐ฎ Looking ahead, Kelsey is excited for the unknown, ready to explore new interests, and possibly take up hobbies and activities he couldn't while playing in the NFL.
Q & A
What led to Jason Kelsey's decision to retire from the Philadelphia Eagles?
-Jason Kelsey's decision to retire was primarily due to his belief that he could no longer compete at the level he desired due to physical deterioration and recovery issues, particularly with his elbow and knees.
How does Jason Kelsey feel about retiring at the same time as the Eagles experienced one of their biggest collapses?
-Jason Kelsey expressed disappointment in retiring following one of the Eagles' biggest collapses but also conveyed confidence in the team's potential to perform strongly in the next season.
What was the significance of Jason Kelsey's outfit during his retirement announcement?
-Jason Kelsey chose to wear a worn-out shirt he had practiced and lifted weights in throughout his career for his retirement announcement, symbolizing his journey and hard work. He also had his ankles taped by a trainer who battled cancer, signifying their bond.
How did Jason Kelsey react to the possibility of having a day named in his honor in Philadelphia?
-Jason Kelsey was not supportive of the idea of having a day named in his honor, expressing that he does not support made-up holidays.
What are Jason Kelsey's plans after retirement?
-Jason Kelsey plans to slim down, explore interests outside of football, such as blacksmithing, and potentially find ways to stay involved with the Eagles or football in some capacity.
Who was significant in influencing Jason Kelsey's career and mentioned in his retirement speech?
-Coach Jeff Stoutland (Stout) was significantly mentioned in Kelsey's retirement speech, credited for his pivotal role in Kelsey's development and decision to continue playing during critical moments in his career.
What does Jason Kelsey believe about the future of the Philadelphia Eagles without him?
-Jason Kelsey believes the Philadelphia Eagles have a bright future, highlighting the team's talent, coaching changes, and the potential for strong performances in the upcoming season.
How does Jason Kelsey plan to manage his weight post-retirement?
-Jason Kelsey plans to reduce his caloric intake while maintaining protein levels to lose weight healthily, targeting a weight of 250 pounds.
What was the reaction of the Philadelphia community and Kelsey's peers to his retirement?
-The Philadelphia community and Kelsey's peers showed an outpouring of love and appreciation, with many expressing their respect and well-wishes for his retirement and future endeavors.
How does Jason Kelsey view the importance of team dynamics in football, based on his experiences?
-Jason Kelsey views team dynamics as crucial in football, highlighting how the sport is reliant on cooperation, with the offensive line symbolizing the sport's collective nature and dependence on each player's contribution.
Outlines
๐ Introduction to New Heights
Jason Kelce introduces the 'New Heights' show alongside his brother Travis Kelce, presented by W sports and entertainment, featuring a smart money debit card partnership. They highlight the return to weekly episodes, encourage subscriptions and social media engagement, and tease a special episode with a major announcement from Jason. The discussion also covers their excitement for the official Kelsey Brothers bobblehead night in Cleveland and their plans to donate proceeds to the Heights schools Foundation.
๐คฃ Learning New Skills
The Kelce brothers reminisce about trying and failing to learn how to spin a basketball on their finger, inspired by the Harlem Globetrotters. They express gratitude towards the Cleveland Cavaliers for organizing a bobblehead night in their honor, revealing their deep connections to Cleveland, including childhood memories of attending Cavs games and other events. The segment concludes with reflections on their athletic endeavors and family life, highlighting the significance of giving back to their community.
๐ Retirement and Reflections
Jason discusses his decision to retire, focusing on the reasons behind it and his plans for the future. He touches on his fitness and the challenges of maintaining it post-retirement. The segment includes humorous anecdotes about past athletic events, showcasing the brothers' close relationship and mutual support. Jason emphasizes the importance of community involvement and the impact of his charity work, linking his retirement to a broader narrative of personal growth and contribution.
๐คช Humor and Brotherhood
The segment delves into playful banter and reminiscing about shared experiences, such as attending a monster truck rally and discussing memorable sports figures. Jason and Travis share stories that highlight their brotherly bond and sense of humor, including a prank involving an autographed jersey and a wine spill incident. The discussion underscores their deep connection, rooted in shared interests and a lifelong companionship that extends beyond their professional achievements.
๐จโ๐ฆโ๐ฆ Family Life and Fatherhood
The brothers discuss the challenges and joys of fatherhood, sharing personal stories that reveal their roles as parents. They humorously recount incidents involving their children, reflecting on the complexities of parenting and the unique personalities of their kids. This segment offers a glimpse into their private lives, emphasizing the importance of family and the everyday moments that define their experience as fathers.
๐ฅ Passion and Legacy
Jason reflects on his career and the impending announcement of his retirement. He shares insights into his mindset, focusing on the significance of leaving a lasting legacy and the impact of his decisions on his family and fans. The segment explores themes of passion, dedication, and the emotional complexities of ending a professional sports career, highlighting Jason's deep connection to the game and his desire to exit on his own terms.
๐ผ Post-Retirement Plans
As Jason contemplates life after football, the discussion turns to potential post-retirement activities and ambitions. He expresses interest in exploring new hobbies, contributing to the community, and spending quality time with family. The segment captures the sense of uncertainty and excitement that accompanies major life transitions, offering a perspective on how professional athletes navigate the end of their careers and plan for the future.
Mindmap
Keywords
๐กRetirement
๐กPhiladelphia Eagles
๐กSuper Bowl
๐กLegacy
๐กEmotion
๐กAchievements
๐กDecision-making
๐กTeamwork
๐กFan support
๐กTransition
Highlights
Jason Kelsey announces retirement and reflects on his career with Travis.
Kelsey brothers discuss the impact of Philadelphia and their bond through football.
Jason shares his thoughts on retirement and the transition to life after football.
Travis and Jason share childhood memories and their journey to the NFL.
Jason talks about his decision to retire, emphasizing physical limitations and desire for new experiences.
Discussion on Jason's retirement speech, highlighting his emotional connection with the team, fans, and city.
Jason expresses gratitude to coaches, teammates, and the Eagles organization for their support.
Kelsey brothers reminisce about their favorite moments on and off the field.
Jason shares plans for the future, including interests outside of football and spending more time with family.
The brothers talk about the legacy Jason leaves behind and his impact on the sport.
Jason discusses the importance of mentorship and his role in supporting upcoming athletes.
Travis and Jason explore the emotional aspect of retiring from a lifelong sport and career.
Jason reflects on the challenges and achievements of his career, offering insights for aspiring athletes.
The Kelsey brothers discuss the significance of staying true to oneself and the values instilled from their upbringing.
Jason's retirement announcement sparks a celebration of his career and the anticipation of his next chapter.
Transcripts
I had uh something that we had to take
care of this past week I owed something
you did not you did not have to take
care of this listen bet bet man was this
enjoyable guys I'm Jason Kelsey welcome
to new
heights welcome back welcome back you
were supposed to Chine in welcome back
ladies and gentlemen the new heights
presented by W sports and entertainment
and brought to you by the all new
experienced smart money de the debit
card that builds credit without the debt
how about that how about that that
thing's going get you one son we're your
host I'm Travis cousin my big brother
Jason Kelsey out of Cleveland Heights
Ohio and we're actually uh we're back to
new episodes dropping every Wednesday so
um we'll see you guys weekly and uh
subscribe on YouTube wherever you get
your podcast follow the show on all
social media at New Height show with 1s
check out our official fan club at New
Height show.com we've got a special
episode for you guys today we uh we're
together here in Philly baby you can't
see we got got our gang green on um and
Jason has just made his big announcement
uh and we've got to talk about it that's
one thing that we are good at is making
sure we talk about things uh but before
that Jason tell the people what we got
coming up we got an incredible episode
everyone we're of course going to get
into uh the retirement speech everything
that went involved in making that
decision uh we're also going to get the
trav's time down under the house and
check out some fan mentions including a
viral photo of a cat that apparently
looks like me well it doesn't look like
me it's got a uh a fur whatever we're
going to talk about it and we'll wrap up
things uh with some no dumb retirement
questions from the 92 percenters but
first as always new new new news coming
in voice back so I can actually hit that
note all right Kelsey Brothers
bobblehead night that's right we're
headed back to the land right after this
episode as of this time the taping of
the show uh we are in Philadelphia but
immediately following we are headed to
Cleveland for the official Kelsey
Brothers bobblehead night this is sool
at the Cleveland Cavaliers game a
portion of the proceeds have been agreed
to be donated uh to uh the height
schools Foundation we grew up in
Cleveland Heights so this was an awesome
collaboration and a opportunity to go
back one watch a Cavs game all right now
be back in Cleveland but also two to
give back to uh the schools and uh
community that raised us yeah dude this
is this is uh this hits home for me
because I used to take the rapid
downtown just to go watch Cavs games
when I was you used to take the rapid
really yeah in high school that's nice
mom used to take it to work every day
yeah yeah nice mom you mom actually used
to Key Bank and then uh Bank One used to
have business tickets at these Cavs
games yeah and I would tell and I once I
figured that one out I was like Mom you
make sure you put put our name down on
every single one of those tickets and
whichever ones don't hit and we like
even if it was like us versus like
whoever was trash like the worst in the
league at that point in time like I
think the Cavs were kind of the worst
but either way whoever was the worst at
LeBron James nobody wanted to go to that
game I will happily go to that game yeah
you like big Z and zunis Ricky Ricky
Davis yeah baby D miles just back when
it was the gun Wesley persons Danny fery
should I well this is Danny was done by
this point yeah you're right Carlos
Boozer yeah Carlos sper was there for
sure then LeBron James if you guys
remember I remember actually tickets
went up I didn't go to I didn't go to
very many games once LeBron yeah there
were the Cavs tickets and there was also
the uh those tickets also worked for any
of the other events so we'd go to
Lumberjack games oh yeah go to uh you
remember the one time we went to the
monster truck rally dude that was dope
we need to go to a monster truck
rally they do want it to link I haven't
been to one for I don't know if it's it
was good as a kid I don't know yeah good
point take the girls gotta be sweet oh
they'd love it I think they would yeah
well uh what do you think of this
bobblehead um I think it's I think it's
got your weight a little disproportioned
but no it's good I I look nice and slim
my head looks enormous but it's a
bobblehead so I think that is this what
is this the body type you're looking to
go to in
retirement uh I I feel like if it's hard
to gauge cuz my head's so large cuz that
is one thing that happens with offensive
lineman when they lose weight they go
too far and your head I feel like your
head gets bigger when you play offive
line and it never really shrinks back
down like my skull has
transformed from years of being 290 lbs
so if I go too light then I'll actually
look like this bobblehead and I don't
want to look like that yeah it's
typically in the neck what I see like
because your neck is like that's your
protectors that's why you got to keep
doing neck give my man Dave Andrews
don't want to get a pencil Dave Anders
man got the jerseys on got your dad you
got your air dads on the the new balance
uh Edition um I think these are sweet
man and I wish I could spin a basketball
on my finger like this I cannot we tried
we tried to learn that so hard and just
never got it down the globe shers never
taught me that one I feel like there's a
trick that you can learn it that' be
pretty easy but we this is like YouTube
wasn't around should we try and redo
this should we finally learn this I feel
there's got to be a YouTube video out
there that like teaches us I don't think
it's interesting enough um okay cool
we're really appreciative that the the
Cavs are doing this for us um and we're
going to show up and try and get that
place as Rowdy as possible knowing that
they got the Boston Celtics coming in
town uh I believe the number one and the
number two teams in the east in the
right now Cavs are back up on top baby
go we're also launching a a clothing
collaboration with the Cavs team shop
the uh the Kel Bros Cleveland's finest
which is pretty damn cool um so make
sure you uh you check that out the
limited edition merch uh when it's
available at the Cleveland Cavaliers
team
shop.com Cavaliers team shop.com am I
Cleveland's finest yes you are I don't
think that's Jason you are Cleveland you
are literally of Cleveland's finest it's
like you and Steve Harvey are like and
Jim Carrey Drew Carrey Drew Carrey I
wish Jim Carrey that'd be a nice one
that'd be pretty crazy Drew is good too
I love you drew that's a great one yeah
it's you3 right there at the top and
like Jason said portion of the proceeds
we go into the Cleveland Heights uh
schools Foundation initiative and um we
always love giving back to the heights
baby no doubt Jason ran a five K how
about that we ran a 5k dude ran walk a
5k was this like the start of you
becoming a bobblehead or what no uh yeah
this this was not the start of losing
weight this is uh so we do our uh
Foundation event every year down in SE a
that raises money for the Eagles autism
Foundation uh but Mike Seafood has been
doing an annual event for 15 years now I
believe Mike Mike's is good down there
too yeah yeah Mike is the man and um his
son is on the Spectrum and they've been
doing a lot of things for uh the autism
cause for and raising money and
awareness for a long time far preceding
Us in SE Isle City in particular uh that
was actually my first time ever going
there was for the Polar Plunge which is
when Mike does his event every year nice
so we thought uh you know you skipped
out on the Polar pin this year no I did
it oh nice was that the 5K the 5K was
the polar so they don't do they used to
have like a specific time where everyone
would go into the ocean together now
they still have like the plunge but you
kind of go at your own pace or if you do
it whatever but the 5K is the only thing
that really is like a thing that happens
now the event down there so we were down
there we wanted to go down there because
we have a house down there now and it's
awesome when you take the girls to the
beach you just let him run we thought uh
you know it'd be really cool to go and
run in Mike's event and uh show up for
that so tried running it yeah I had like
I had my
monarchs not the best running shoe I
don't think they I'll tell you what you
can mow some grass you could yeah
they're great you could lay some mulch
yeah they're great lawn mower you could
plant some flowers you could you could
do some handy work in the garage yeah
not a 5k shoe but not a 5k shoe running
around in those things so we started off
you can cuz you did you did it but we
started off running and I'm I should
have know like first of all we were late
we showed up a little bit late so it had
already started perfect that's genius
and I start running and I'm like we're
like did you steal a few blocks too did
you no you started we started right from
the we kind of snuck in and still went
and as we're running we're like passing
people I'm like okay we're doing pretty
good here and I should have known at
that point like hey we need to just slow
this pace down so we're running and one
of the uh Hammond that we're with says
uh Taylor says that every 20 blocks or
something like that is a mile all right
she just throws that out there so I'm
running and we hit about 20 blocks and
I'm like hey I'm doing good the block
the blocks are kind of short over there
that's I can see that it's not the case
let me we going to get to it so I
thought that was where we were at and
I'm like okay I'm I'm cruising this is a
good Pace I think I'm going to nail this
I think I'm actually going to be able to
do this and then like after we're off of
the prominade boardwalk and we're onto
the like Street they have a line I think
I'm well past a mile and there's a line
and it says one mile and I'm just like
oh my God there is and I know I got to
go three plus and I'm like there's just
no way this is happening I've I have
given everything I have to get to this
point so I made it halfway I made it I
made it just before halfway I started
walking then just kept walking cuz I
used up
everything and then ran like the last
500 feet where's our mental toughness I
I was inducing mental toughness through
that mile it was hard I'm not built for
this there's also like this weird I I
feel like the same way with swimming
where like older people have this
ability to just get in this this gear
where it's actually like slower than if
you walked but they can just maintain it
yeah and I can't maintain my run like
I'm like in this gear I think you get
that after 50 like you once you hit 50
you find that zone like I'm like
watching people swim I'm like how are
you even like staying a float with how
slow you're going I don't know how this
is like possible like and but they
Outlast me just buoyant I it's literally
like I'm just living the tortoise in the
hair the movie of the taurise in the or
the uh the story of the taurise in the
hair like that is like
what old people are to me in any
conditioning event like they can they're
going to catch me because I'm going to
get tired and they've somehow they're
still so you got smoked saw Mr Meo
running past you or just I got smoked by
every old I was it was embarrassing I'm
not going to lie pickle ball and 5Ks are
not something I can compete with old
people
in we got a good tweet from you um after
Fox Sports NFL uh tweeted out Jason just
ran a 5k to raise money you said in
quotes ran is a generous uh verb for
it's a wrong
verb not generous it's incorrect uh but
we had a blast and I'll tell you my time
was 45 minutes the fact that you just
said you did Jesus 45 minutes for three
miles I'm telling you it was a bad I
think you're not passing you're not
passing Roxboro elementary gym class if
I would have known I should have checked
the route out and known exactly how far
I was going cuz then I would have like
stopped earlier and I could have mind
[ย __ย ] you it mind [ย __ย ] you and you
were checked out after that yeah and
then once I got to that level fatigue
and like I was just overheated my
carburetor was steaming I was well you
finished strong because you ran across
the Finish Well yeah you got to finish
strong you can't just walk across the
Finish
Line tell you what I'll tell you what's
not good I don't know why it's reminding
me of this movie uh that simbad was in
as a kid I know
exactly ra and then just hits a right
hook into like the houses that goes and
sees the double arches and goes gets
McDonald's in the middle of it oh my I
see you just I know exactly what you're
talking about oh man it's a good one if
it was McDonald's I might have
stopped it was early no I had had a
breakfast yet there's no Mickey D's on
the uh over there in and then uh after
we ran it we went to the beach right off
uh the street that our house is on and
uh went in the water plunged nice did a
little plunge shout out to Mike for
doing this thing for what is it 19 plus
years 15 15 yep I'm sure it'll get to
sometime yeah I mean it's not stopping
sometime next it's not stopping anytime
soon so shout out to Mike man can't wait
to get some uh that Seafood when I'm on
the aisle just right now there we go
well I had uh something that we had to
take care of this past week I owed
something you did not you did not have
to take care of listen bet bet Bo man
was this enjoyable guys there was an
agreement made a packed agreed to and um
what was the pack well the pack was if
the
Bills beat the Chiefs in the New Heights
team name competition oh okay yeah that
I would have to jump through a flaming
table it was time to Pony up so we uh
have an outstanding video here uh where
you guys can check out how that went
down it was
exhilarating it's not at all like the
way the Buffalo uh bills Mafia jumps
through tables this was a very safety
first um I can't wait to hear Bill's
Mafia just just look at the comments and
just see you get torched for this why
would they torch me I jumped through a
torch why would they torch
me you're like bubble wrap dude you were
like the safest human being to ever jump
through a I thought it' be fitting
because the Steelers then knocked out
the bills so I wearing dad's dad steel
mill clothing attire AKA it it kind of
makes sense and it's safe so you were
like yeah I got listen I didn't want to
catch on fire if I would have been 20
milles deep or whatever beer of choice I
was about to say you had a few beverages
huh to get the to get the nerves to calm
down 20 beers deep if I would have been
20 beers deep I would have jumped
through that thing with my t-shirt on
but I wasn't 20 beers de we were riding
to the firehouse and you literally said
I'm going to jump from the top of the
fire trck and in my head I'm like that's
I thought Le I thought that was like
reason 15ot jump dude I don't think it's
that jump from the second I think it's
jumping from the second floor onto a
[ย __ย ] I think it's 10t no way dude I
got up on the top of the one truck which
was shorter than the fire truck and
immediately was like man I'm not worried
at all about the
fire started like cat out a little bit
like let me make sure I got my bearings
here cuz this
is the fire was the least inting this a