2024 began on a sad note for Eagles’ fans, with Jason Kelce announcing his retirement. Although the center felt as though his time had come, some people have called it the fall of the Philadelphia team. However, Papa Kelce seems to think otherwise. The 52-year-old even recently took to social media to put his trust in the team’s coach to carry them to victory in the upcoming season.

In a post to his Facebook page, Ed Kelce shared an article that claimed the 36-year-old’s retirement could affect the Eagles’ chances of reaching another Super Bowl final. The father of two wrote, “I wouldn’t write off the birds just yet; they still have the best O-Line coach in the business.” With Papa Kelce putting his trust in Jeff Stoutland, the former center’s mentor, there might be a lot of weight on the 62-year-old’s shoulders.

After all, the now ESPN NFL analyst, Jason Kelce, had claimed that the coach had helped turn him into the NFL’s best center. While his time with the Eagles had started on a rough note, 2016 saw the athlete face the brunt of scorned Philly fans. Luckily for him, Stoutland had faith in the center and coached him right into the Hall of Fame.

During a media conference earlier this year, the 36-year-old closed the curtain on his NFL career. While talking to reporters, the athlete got emotional and even stated, “No one has been more influential or meaningful to my success on the field and my career than Stout.” With a bond like that, it is no wonder that the offensive line coach had gone all out for Kelce once his retirement was official.

Jeff Stoutland’s goodbye to Jason Kelce’s NFL career

A few short months ago, Jason Kelce lay down his Philadelphia Eagles jersey, helmet, and shoulder pads. Although the center believed he was ready to step into the next phase of life, his revelation left fans heartbroken. However, they were not the only ones feeling the loss of the 36-year-old. In fact, just days after the father of two made his announcement, his coach, Jeff Stoutland, sent his protégé on his way with nothing but love.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the 62-year-old admitted that some of his “fondest coaching moments” had been by Kelce’s side during their 11-season run. The coach also told the center that he was proud of him and the “legacy” that he had managed to build over the years. He even ended the post by saying that he would miss working with the athlete. However, he signed off with, “It’s been my honor & I congratulate you on an incredible career. Stout out.”

Although Kelce and the coach may have parted ways, it looks like the bond between them and even the former Eagles star’s parents have managed to remain unaffected by the athlete’s retirement plans. And luckily for fans, his NFL career has not completely reached an end with the 36-year-old set to replace RGIII on Monday Night Football.