In a surprising turn of events, the NFL community was left in shock when news of Philadelphia Eagles Center Jason Kelce’s retirement broke on Tuesday morning.

The 36-year-old football stalwart, who had been considering retirement, officially bid adieu to his illustrious 13-season career with the Eagles.

The announcement was made in an emotional scene captured by cameras, where Jason Kelce’s mother, Donna Kelce, hugged him tightly, tears streaming down her face, in front of tens of thousands of fans. The heartfelt moment unfolded after the Eagles’ wildcard playoff loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Donna Kelce had traveled to Florida to support her son in what turned out to be the final game of his career against the Buccaneers. The emotional footage showed Donna waving to the crowd in the stands, symbolizing the end of an era for the Eagles and their beloved Center.

Despite Jason Kelce’s decision to retire, many fans lamented the timing, wondering why it had to be on that particular day. Cameras captured Kelce in tears on the sideline at the end of Monday night’s 32-9 loss, marking an unfortunate and bitter end to his journey with the Eagles.

In a post-game moment, Kelce reportedly informed his teammates of his intention to retire, prompting an outpouring of support from both fans and colleagues. The Philadelphia Eagles organization described the scene as Mama Kelsey being “in the house.”

Reflecting on the moment, Donna Kelce shared her sentiments, stating, “I have two bracelets that belong to my stepmother. She really loved those bracelets, and I decided to buy them and wear them. I will wear the Chiefs bracelet to Travis’s games and the Philly bracelet to Jason’s games.”

Donna also took the opportunity to talk about her son’s mentors growing up, crediting them with helping the NFL star stay grounded throughout his career.

Jason Kelce, who finishes his career with a Super Bowl victory and six-time first-team All-Pro status, hardly needs an introduction. Instead, he received an emotional farewell from fans and observers across the country, expressing their love and appreciation for the future Hall of Famer and Philly legend.