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          Eagles' Jason Kelce retires from arm wrestling, not NFL

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          • Tim McManus, ESPN Staff WriterApr 16, 2020, 04:47 PM
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              Tim McManus covers the Philadelphia Eagles for ESPN. He joined ESPN in 2016 after covering the Eagles for Philadelphia Magazine's Birds 24/7, a site he helped create, since 2010. You can follow him on Twitter @Tim_McManus.
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          PHILADELPHIA -- Eagles center Jason Kelce announced his retirement Thursday -- from arm wrestling.

          But football? That's still a go.

          In an Instagram post that put more than a few fans on edge, Kelce said he had decided to "RETIRE...from arm wrestling," leaving behind a 2-0 record, with one victory over Flyers center Claude Giroux and the other against a bar patron one random night this offseason in the Philadelphia suburbs.

          View this post on Instagram

          Until now I haven't address my future because I have been mulling it over for some time this offseason. I wanted to allow my body and mind to fully recover from the rigors of an NFL season, and take time with my family to see what lies ahead. After thinking long and hard about this I have come to a decision. I have decided to RETIRE... from arm wrestling. I leave behind a 2-0 record, one win against this man, and the other being against @28cgiroux and want to go out on top. It was a good run, but my drunken arm wrestling days are behind me, and it's better to move on to a more mature future. I thank everyone along the way that has made this possible! Especially @brickandbrew for cutting me off after this debacle (which was completely warranted, love you guys) and getting me to sleep. Despite this retirement, I am fully excited for the 2020 season and will be out there with my teammates, coaches and hopefully fans this coming season. Enough media members and fans have reached out if I am playing next season, and I just wanted to make an announcement so I can stop getting asked. Can't wait to be out there this season, can't wait to have sports back, and I can't wait till this lockdown is over. #GoEagles

          A post shared by Jason Kelce (@jason.kelce) on

          That was all a lead-up to the real news, that Kelce would be returning for a 10th NFL season.

          Word got out toward the end of an injury-riddled 2018 season that he was pondering retirement -- a notion Kelce didn't deny, adding that it's something that goes through many veterans' minds each offseason during the latter stages of their careers.

          The love of the game and the camaraderie he has with his teammates brought him back in 2019, and now again in 2020.

          "I am fully excited for the 2020 season and will be out there with my teammates, coaches and hopefully fans this coming season," Kelce wrote. "Enough media members and fans have reached out if I am playing next season, and I just wanted to make an announcement so I can stop getting asked. Can't wait to be out there this season, can't wait to have sports back, and I can't wait till this lockdown is over."

          Kelce, 32, is regarded as one of the top centers in the league. He has been named first-team All-Pro each of the past three years and is a three-time Pro Bowler.