The Philadelphia Eagles could use the wisdom of a former star as their offensive line battles injuries and inconsistency, but Jason Kelce is not ready to return to the team in a coaching capacity. The retired center has made his position clear, citing a demanding schedule and the availability of more experienced coaches. His decision comes during a major transition in Philadelphia, where the departure of longtime offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland has left the team adjusting to a new era. Despite his deep connection to the franchise, Kelce believes helping from the sidelines is one thing, while committing to an NFL coaching job is another.
Jason Kelce explains why he will not coach the Eagles
Philadelphia’s offensive line has faced a difficult start to the 2026 season. Injuries have sidelined three starting linemen, while the team has struggled to establish its running game and protect quarterback Jalen Hurts. New offensive line coach Chris Kuper now faces the challenge of rebuilding consistency in a unit that once stood among the team’s strengths.Naturally, Kelce’s name has entered the conversation. The six-time First-Team All-Pro and seven-time Pro Bowl selection spent 13 seasons with the Eagles and won a Super Bowl with the franchise. However, he does not believe his playing experience alone makes him the best candidate for the job.“I was there in training camp a little bit and learning the offense a little bit and trying to help those guys as far as, like, I think anybody who’s played a long time can offer a good perspective on how to help and assist in a room like that at a position that they played in,” said Kelce on SPORTSRADIO 94WIP. “I think that there’s probably people that are far more experienced and knowledgeable than I am.“…The reality is one, I don’t have the time to do that, and then two, in a meaningful way, like, I’ll try and help those guys out any way I can, and I still go in every once in a while but to offer the type of assistance you would be saying I don’t have that time, and then two, there’s just better people that have been offensive line coaches that, if they wanted to seek outside help, they could go to.”
Jason Kelce’s ESPN and podcast commitments keep him busy
Kelce’s schedule helps explain his reluctance. He joined ESPN’s Monday Night Countdown pregame show in 2024 and co-hosts the New Heights podcast with his brother, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. The podcast secured a reported $100 million deal with Amazon’s Wondery, adding another major commitment to his workload.Family also plays a central role in his decision. Jason and his wife, Kylie Kelce, have four daughters, and the former center has repeatedly acknowledged the personal sacrifices required to coach in the NFL.“I would love to coach,” said Kelce. “The problem with coaching is the time — huge time commitment. If you want to be great at coaching, you can only coach and it takes away, especially if you want to do it at the NFL level. Potentially could do that in future at the high-school level. Definitely a different time commitment there. I want nothing to do with college.”For now, Kelce appears content with his life after football. He remains willing to offer advice to Philadelphia’s players, but a full-time coaching return is not on his immediate agenda. The Eagles must look elsewhere for answers as they work to restore their offensive line’s strength.
