The Eagles are expected to lose a number of key players in the coming free agent period, but a mainstay of their offense will remain in place. Center Jason Kelce announced (on Twitter) that he will play in 2023.

“I have put much thought into whether it makes sense to play another season,” he said. “After talking it over with my wife and many other friends and family, I have decided to return for another year. Thank you to all my supporters and detractors for fueling me.”

The 35-year-old was said to be mulling retirement ahead of the Eagles’ Super Bowl loss. His remarks prior to the game suggested that he would still have a desire to continue his career regardless of the outcome of that game, though, so today’s announcement comes as little surprise. He will extend his Eagles career to at least 13 seasons.

Kelce has been a model of durability during his NFL tenure, missing significant time only in his second season. His high standard of play has also been seen throughout his career, including well into his 30s. The former sixth-rounder earned his sixth career Pro Bowl nod in 2022 (his fourth straight), as well first-team All-Pro honors for the fifth season (and second in a row).

Being able to keep Kelce, who has one year remaining on his contract at a cap hit of just over $9MM, will be a welcomed development for the Eagles. The team’s o-line played a crucial role in their success on offense, and the veteran pivot was at the heart of their production. The news also comes on a day when the expected exodus of Eagles starters has begun, including defensive tackle Javon Hargrave and linebacker T.J. Edwards.

Kelce will remain in place at the center position, leaving 2021 draftee Cam Jurgens likely to slot in at left guard in 2023. The latter is seen as Kelce’s successor, but the time for him to take the C spot will not arrive for at least one more year.

Eagles center Jason Kelce has mulled retirement in each of the last several offseasons. As such, it will not come as much of a surprise to learn that the 35-year-old will again consider hanging up the cleats in the coming weeks, as reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Of course, Kelce will assume his familiar role as Philadelphia’s starting center in Super Bowl LVII today. Kelce — whose brother, Travis Kelce, will suit up for the opposing Chiefs — will be seeking his second championship ring, though he does not believe the outcome of the game will influence his decision.

“From everything I’ve been told about when you know it’s time to retire or not, you just know when you know, and it’s going to be when you don’t want to play football anymore,” he said. “And I don’t think that winning this game is going to determine whether I want to continue playing football or not.”

Indeed, after today’s contest, Jason Kelce will have at least one championship on his resume, and he has enjoyed a long and remarkably durable career in which he has established himself as one of the best pivots of his generation. And despite his age and the fact that he has been contemplating retirement for some time, there is no question that the Eagles would want him back.

Kelce, who added his sixth Pro Bowl nod and fifth First Team All-Pro bid to his career accomplishments in 2022, continues to play at a high level. Pro Football Focus did not charge him with a single sack and assigned him a stellar 88.9 overall grade for his efforts this season, the second-best mark among all qualified centers and just one point behind his Super Bowl LVII counterpart, Creed Humphrey. He was also the anchor of a line that helped the Eagles to a tremendous season in which they finished third in the league in both total offense and points per game.

Obviously, Philadelphia wants to have some clarity on Kelce’s plans before the start of the league year on March 15, and Schefter says Kelce does plan to make a decision by then. He joins DT Fletcher Cox, DE Brandon Graham, and RT Lane Johnson as Eagles stalwarts facing uncertain futures with the team, though we recently heard that if any or all of those players want to return in 2023, the club will find a way to make it happen.

If Kelce chooses to walk away, 2022 second-rounder Cam Jurgens is in line to take his place.

Jason Kelce took a bit of time this offseason before deciding he wanted to continue his career. The Eagles have their All-Pro center back in place, but they will be without him for the time being.

The veteran snapper is undergoing elbow surgery, Tim McManus of ESPN.com tweets. While a surgery occurring this close to the regular season would seem to put Kelce’s Week 1 availability in jeopardy, McManus adds (via Twitter) it is realistic the 12th-year blocker will be ready for the Eagles’ opener. That said, Kelce is currently without a timetable. This surgery happened Tuesday, McManus tweets.

This being described as a routine cleanup-type procedure should be good news for Eagles fans, as should Kelce’s run of availability. The likely Hall of Fame candidate has not missed a game since the 2014 season. This ironman streak may encounter some turbulence ahead of the season, however.

Kelce, 34, obviously served as a critical cog in the Eagles’ 2021 turnaround, a stretch in which the team pivoted to a run-oriented attack and mounted a playoff push. The Eagles led the NFL in rushing in Nick Sirianni‘s first season. They did this without guards Isaac Seumalo or Brandon Brooks being healthy. Lane Johnson also missed four games in 2021, with Jordan Mailata being sidelined for three. Kelce’s durability over the years has certainly helped an otherwise injury-prone Eagles O-line. Kelce has been the NFL’s first-team All-Pro center in four of the past five seasons.

Big on O-line fortification, draft-wise, the Eagles continued to prepare for Kelce’s eventual departure this year. The team drafted Cam Jurgens in Round 2. While 2021 second-round pick Landon Dickerson ended his college career as the center on Alabama’s latest national championship squad, he has become a starting guard in Philly. Jurgens is on an early track to be Kelce’s successor. The team’s current second-string center will be in line for a few weeks’ worth of additional work ahead of what could be Kelce’s final season.

Jason Kelce put a stop to retirement rumors Thursday. The decorated Eagles center will return for the 2022 season, he announced (via Twitter).

The 11-year veteran suggested after the 2021 season it might have been his last, but the Eagles will have their longtime snapper on the field again next season. Kelce, 34, has not missed a game since the 2014 season.

While the Eagles have naturally seen many Super Bowl LII starters depart, the team still has Kelce and Lane Johnson anchoring their offensive line. Since that 2017 season, Kelce has added a run of honors despite turning 30 that year. Kelce is now a four-time first-team All-Pro, with his latest such honor coming last season. His four All-Pros lead the way among centers in the 21st century, with no other center whose career began after 2000 earning more than two such nods.

The Cincinnati product has added five Pro Bowls and played a central role in the Eagles leading the NFL in rushing last season. They became the first team since the 1985 Bears to rush for at least 175 yards in seven straight games, doing so after committing to the ground game in Week 7.

Kelce’s contract runs through the 2022 season, though several void years are present due to restructuring. He is on Philadelphia’s books at $10.6MM next season. The Eagles have Johnson and left tackle Jordan Mailata under contract through 2025.