The Philadelphia Eagles’ late-season collapse is complete. The NFC’s representative in Super Bowl LVII is done after Super Wild Card Weekend this year — and the collapse could spell the end for one of the franchise’s most decorated players.

Jason Kelce was withdrawn for the Eagles’ final offensive plays against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday night, a game in which Philadelphia fell behind early and never led. Kelce was powerless to prevent Philly from losing 32-9 at Raymond James Stadium — the Eagles’ sixth loss in seven games to end the 2023 NFL season — and the All-Pro center could be heading into retirement after a Hall of Fame career in pro football.

The signs are there: Kelce is at least considering retirement

Kelce was seen tearing up on the sidelines during the fourth quarter of Monday’s game, as the Eagles’ slim hopes for a comeback against the resurgent Buccaneers grew slimmer and slimmer. ESPN’s cameras found the 36-year-old a number of times during the second half, when Philly’s once-explosive offense was kept off the scoreboard.

Kelce found father Ed and wife Kylie in the stands after time expired in the fourth quarter, giving both a handshake (and lingering a little longer with his spouse) before waving to other Eagles fans who had been seated behind the Philly bench.

He may be one of the greatest offensive linemen of his generation, but not even Kelce could stop the onslaught of red jerseys coming quarterback Jalen Hurts’ way on Monday. Hurts, already battling through a dislocated middle finger on his throwing hand, was sacked three times and called for an intentional grounding penalty in the end zone during the third quarter, leading to a safety and two points for Tampa.

What has Kelce said?
Kelce last week was given first-team All-Pro honors for the third year running and for the sixth time in seven seasons. The center can clearly still play at an elite level, but a decade-plus in the NFL takes a significant toll on the body. Kelce, who has also been selected to seven Pro Bowls, has already won a Super Bowl in his lengthy career and may feel he has nothing more to prove in the NFL, especially as his “New Heights” podcast with younger brother Travis is among the most popular of its kind in the United States.

Although he has yet to directly address the growing murmurs that he will retire, Kelce — who has started each of the 205 games he has played in the NFL — repeated some advice his father once gave him in an indirect answer to a question about his future.

“You step off the curb one day, and that could be the end of your career. So you try and approach every game with that mindset,” he told reporters prior to Monday’s wild-card game. “But obviously, the older and the closer you get to that being a realization puts it out in front maybe a little bit more.

“The main thing is going out there and battling with each of the guys in this locker room, no matter how many more years I play or any of us play.”