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Contract Status: Jason Kelce signed a new seven-year contract on February 27, 2014 that runs through the 2020 season.
2014 Season In Review: Kelce doesn't think it was his best season, but he is regarded highly throughout the league and earned his first Pro Bowl nod in 2014. Kelce has said that he thought his outstanding 2013 season earned him the Pro Bowl honor this past year, and there may be some truth to that, but the Eagles had to persevere without one of the most valuable core players on the team for some time this season. In the Week 3 win against Washington, Kelce suffered a sports hernia that required surgery and forced him out for four games. After he valiantly returned to action in Week 9, running back LeSean McCoy had four games of 99 yards rushing or more. McCoy had one such game before that. The Eagles still finished fifth in the league in total offense with 6,348 yards.
What's On The Horizon: Head coach Chip Kelly trusts Kelce with the pre-snap responsibilities to take some of the pressure off of the quarterback. He is smart, tough, technically sound and off-the-charts athletically for the position. He is the ideal fit for the Eagles' zone-blocking scheme. Kelce's ability to get to the second level opens up an added dimension for this offense. Fully healthy, Kelce will look to replicate his 2013 season, when he graded out as Pro Football Focus' top overall center. To do so, he'll have to adjust to another quarterback in Sam Bradford and two new running backs in Ryan Mathews and DeMarco Murray. There will also be change along the offensive line after Todd Herremans' departure this offseason, but no matter how many adjustments there are Kelce's presence provides a sense of calm on the field.
All About Kelce: "He's a born leader. I don't care whether he's played linebacker, which he did in college at one point, that's just his mentality. He's the perfect personality of what you want your center to be. And it's not just his personality and the way he conducts things and takes charge, but it's also his ability to move and to burst. He's the whole package. Now that he's on the field after the injury, he's just going to get better and better down the stretch." - Offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland
During his time with the Eagles, C Jason Kelce has been a valuable asset to the strength of the offensive line ...
Eagles C Jason Kelce was voted to his first Pro Bowl this past season
He became the first Eagles center to gain Pro Bowl recognition since Jim Ringo was named to his 10th Pro Bowl following the 1967 season
Kelce earned this recognition even with missing four games with a sports hernia
Kelce was instrumental in helping the Eagles generate 6,348 yards of total offense this past season
Originally a sixth round draft pick in 2011, Kelce made an instant impact by starting all 16 games during his rookie season
In 2013, Kelce was named the team's Ed Block Courage Award recipient after returning from a knee injury
He is a native of Ohio and attended college at the University of Cincinnati, where he graduated with a degree in Marketing
Kelce was originally a walk-on with the Bearcat program as a linebacker, but was switched to the offensive side of the ball by coach Brian Kelly (now head coach at Notre Dame)
Once switched to offensive line, Kelce earned a scholarship and started the final 38 of 47 games with Cincinnati at guard and center
Travis, Kelce's brother, played at Cincinnati for Jason's final two seasons and then was drafted by the Chiefs in the third round of the 2013 draft
