Jason Kelce tells Eagles teammates he’s retiring, sources say

Philadelphia Eagles star center Jason Kelce told his teammates in the postgame locker room Monday night that he was retiring, league sources told ESPN.

Kelce, 36, was visibly emotional at the end of the Eagles' 32-9 playoff loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The six-time All-Pro and future Hall of Famer has considered retirement for the past few seasons, but this time it will happen, sources say.

Kelce refused to speak to reporters in the locker room after the game, saying, “No guys, not today.”

“I love him,” Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said. “He's special and I love him. He's one of the most special guys I've ever been around. He still belongs here.”

Kelce played this season on a one-year contract and was set to become a free agent in March.

A sixth-round pick in 2011, Kelce played his entire 13-year career with the Eagles and was one of the key leaders of a team that made six playoff appearances and two Super Bowl trips over the past seven seasons. .

“He’s a legend in the city, really in the league,” Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts said. “I don't want to do him a disservice or the things he was able to do and overcome. His journey to where he is now hasn't been easy. It's been a very, very long time for him, and every year since I've been here, it's: “Are you going to come back?”

“But he knows how much I love and appreciate him. He knows how much I learned from him. He will always have a special place in my heart.”

Eagles right tackle Lane Johnson told reporters that Kelce had “hinted” to his teammates that this would be his last season.

“I love him. He's one of the best to ever play the game,” Johnson said. “The things he can do on the football field athletically, I don’t think we’ll see another one like him for a long time.”

Kelce is the fifth center in NFL history with at least six All-Pro selections. The other four – Jim Otto, Bulldog Turner, Dermontti Dawson, Jim Ringo – are all inductees into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

ESPN's Tim McManus contributed to this report.