Jason Kelce Opens Up About Post-NFL Weight Loss Journey, Body Struggles, and Staying Fit After Retirement

Former Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce has been candid about his post-retirement health journey, which began after he stepped away from the NFL in March 2024 following a 13-year career.

Shortly after his emotional retirement announcement, Kelce shared his intention to “slim down” from his playing weight of around 295 lbs. “As far as the weight is concerned, I weighed 295 for the majority of my NFL career,” Kelce told GQ in June 2024, though he later admitted he occasionally “tipped 300.”

His goal? To reach 250 lbs. “I’m gonna slim down. My goal is 250 lbs. This last week I got down to like 285 because I knew I was doing this and then I had cake like three days in a row,” Kelce joked on his and brother Travis Kelce’s podcast New Heights in March 2024.

Kelce participated in a 5K in February 2024 to support the Eagles Autism Foundation and poked fun at himself afterward. “’Ran’ is a generous verb for what occurred,” he wrote after finishing in 43 minutes. “But we had a blast.”

By June 2024, Kelce had already shed 20 lbs. and reported feeling “better” physically. At 277 lbs. at the time, he said his back and knees were improving and hoped to feel even better with another 20 lbs. lost. “I think 250 to 260 feels like I’ll still be big and be happy with the way I look,” he explained, noting he wasn’t aiming for a six-pack but rather a sustainable physique.

His weight loss approach has remained practical. “I personally don’t subscribe to doing extreme diets,” Kelce said. “I downloaded MyFitnessPal and just started tracking calories… maintain protein, limit calories.”

In March 2025, Kelce joined former Eagles teammate Beau Allen for a friendly weight loss challenge — a three-month body fat percentage competition. After a bone density scan, Kelce revealed he had “207 lbs. of muscle” and “58.7 lbs. of fat,” or about 21% body fat. “It’s kind of embarrassing seeing your body broken down like this,” he joked, but added that he’s trying to stay motivated with fun goals post-retirement.

Despite his success in shedding weight, Kelce admitted in May 2025 that his body is struggling. “It’s getting bad,” he said on New Heights. “I don’t know if it’s the moment you retire mentally, your body retires too… I keep straining muscles.” He shared that even a round of golf recently inflamed his ankle, making squats painful.

Currently weighing around 270 lbs., Kelce dismissed any thoughts of returning to the NFL, even as Travis teased him about playing tight end. “Can’t, no. My ankles and knees and back won’t let me,” Kelce said.

Though physically challenged, Kelce remains committed to his health goals, balancing exercise, humor, and realism in his post-NFL life.