Now Retired Jason Kelce Was Great, But He's Not On Mount Rushmore For Centers
It began with emotion and then added poetry and nostalgia from one of the greatest centers ever to play in the NFL. Jason Kelce's retirement announcement on Monday began with him fighting back tears for a solid four minutes before he got rolling.
And then he cried some more and sniffled throughout.
It was moving as he recalled memories from a storied career.
And it was classic Kelce, who wore a cutoff sleeve Eagles T-shirt, and began with recollections of his first middle school day on a football field.
"Stepping on the field was the most alive and free I had ever felt," Kelce said. "Running around like a crazed lunatic and then being told I did a good job."
ORLANDO, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 04: Jason Kelce #62 (L) and Jalen Hurts #1 of the Philadelphia Eagles and NFC talk during the 2024 NFL Pro Bowl at Camping World Stadium on February 04, 2024 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)
Jason Kelce Leaves His First Love
Football was Kelce's first love.
"I loved everything about it," he said.
Kelce, a six-time All Pro during a 13-year career that spanned 193 games, will go down as one of the great centers in NFL history. He eventually will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. At least he'll get my vote because, you know, I actually have one (humble brag).
"Thirteen seasons in Philadelphia," Kelce said. "I look back on a career filled with ups and downs."
The Eagles were certainly up and down. Kelce was almost always outstanding.
It's the reason coach Nick Sirianni sent him kegs of beer during the 2023 offseason to convince him to return for one more year.
"You knew the key to my heart," Kelce said.
TAMPA, FLORIDA - JANUARY 15: Jason Kelce #62 of the Philadelphia Eagles plays during the NFC Wild Card game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium on January 15, 2024 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
Jason Kelce On The Center Mount Rushmore?
And all this is awesome, except, for one thing: Kelce was so good for so long the question isn't whether he's the best center in Eagles history. He is. It isn't whether he's one of the all-time greats. He is.
The question is whether he's one of the greatest of the greats at his position, which tells you to what esteem Kelce is held. The question is whether Kelce belongs on the Mount Rushmore of NFL centers.
And the answer is no.
Sorry, Taylor Swift's boyfriend.
Although Kelce has the look of a 19th century man, which should make him a plausible addition for a Mount Rushmore carving, his career exploits and tape don't quite rise to top 4 center status. (There are four heads on Mount Rushmore, folks).
So who is on that grand, mythical summit for centers?
Consider:
Oakland Raiders # 00 Jim Otto file photos. (Photo by James Flores/Getty Images) *** Local Caption ***
Double 00 And An NFL MVP At Center
1. Jim Otto (Raiders): It begins with him. He set the tone and the bar for the modern NFL center. He played an astounding 210 consecutive games, which is something considering seasons consisted of 14 games back then. He was All Pro first team 10 times. He was a first-ballot Hall of Famer in 1980 and he was on the NFL's 100th anniversary all-time team.
2. Mel Hein (Giants): You've probably never heard of him because you're young and he played before national television broadcasts of the NFL. But Hein, who played from 1931-45, was also on the NFL 100th anniversary all-time team, was on the 75th anniversary all time team, and this: In 1938, Hein was so dominant he won the NFL MVP award. While playing center. Says it all.
PITTSBURGH, PA - CIRCA 1987: Center Mike Webster #52 of the Pittsburgh Steelers faces nose tackle Doug Smith #99 of the Houston Oilers at the line of scrimmage during a game at Three Rivers Stadium circa 1987 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Steelers defeated the Oilers 37-24. (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images)
Webster An Anchor Of Steelers Dynasty
3. Mike Webster (Steelers): Ask any member of the Steel Curtain who was the best center they played against on a regular basis. The answer always includes Webster, who matched up against Pittsburgh defensive tackles Ernie Holmes and Joe Greene in practice every day. Webster was the anchor of an offensive line that helped the Steelers win back-to-back Super Bowls – twice. Franco Harris and Rocky Bleier were 1,000-yard rushers in the same backfield with Webster at center. And Terry Bradshaw had plenty of time to throw to Lynn Swann and John Stallworth with Webster at center. Yes, Webster was selected to the 100th anniversary team.
UNITED STATES - JANUARY 20: Football: Super Bowl XIX, Miami Dolphins QB Dan Marino (13) and Dwight Stephenson (57) in action vs San Francisco 49ers, Stanford, CA 1/20/1985 (Photo by Tony Triolo/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images) (SetNumber: X31009 TK2 R2 F14)
Dwight Stephenson Was A Shooting Star
4 Dwight Stephenson (Dolphins): He was Jason Kelce before Jason Kelce. Except he was stronger. And quicker. Stephenson is not always recognized as a member of the center version of Mount Rushmore because he was a shooting star that flamed out after only an eight-year career, with the final two of those punctuated by a terrible knee injury. But he was easily the most dominant center of the 1980s and he is on the NFL's 100th anniversary team. Anyone who ever watched his tape of the 1985 game against the Bears' famed 46 defense in which he sometimes blocked two guys (including Hall of Famer Steve McMichael) on the same play, understands how awesome Stephenson truly was.
So does Kelce have a chance to supplant one of these men on the center Mount Rushmore because, perhaps, the appreciation for his great feats will grow with time?
In Philadelphia, maybe. He'll rightly be remembered there as one of the four greats of all time in the City of Brotherly Love.