Former Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce is preparing for a football season without football. At 36 years old, this fall will be the first since he was a kid that Kelce isn't a football player.
Instead, he will continue his podcast career, take on an on-air role on ESPN's “Monday Night Football” and spend a considerable amount of time at Buffalo Wild Wings on game days. In a recent partnership with the fast-food chain, Kelce has created his own personal menu, “Kelce's Picks.”
Kelce highlighted two particular menu items he calls his favorites for game days this year: the triple bacon cheeseburger and 10 traditional wings with buffalo bacon sauce.
That combination is not an eating plan for someone hoping to play in the NFL at age 36, according to former Kansas City Chiefs and Pittsburgh Steelers dietitian Leslie Bonci.
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NFL Dietitian Leslie Bonci at the “Making Appropriate Nutritional Choices with the Student-Athlete in Mind” conference during the 2009 NCAA Convention at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in Washington, DC. Photos via Getty Images (Photos by Stephen Nowland/NCAA via Getty Images)
“I would never recommend this type of food before games. It doesn't contain enough carbohydrates and has too much fat, so it could cause digestive problems. Even after the game, it's not the best for recovery,” Bonci told Fox News Digital.
“One meal like this a week won't have any significant impact on an active person, although the volume may be uncomfortable. This is a heavy, calorie-dense meal that is also high in sodium, so it could cause increased thirst.”
According to Buffalo Wild Wings' nutrition guide, both products combined add up to 2,370 calories, 211 grams of fat, 3.5 grams of trans fat, 590 milligrams of cholesterol, 4,670 milligrams of sodium, 44 grams of carbohydrates, 9 grams of sugar and 172 grams of protein.
Bonci, who has been part of four Super Bowl-winning teams with the Chiefs and Steelers, believes this food backlog could hamper an older offensive lineman's ability to play.
“It's true that my offensive linemen aren't typically small, but they still need to move quickly during the game, and that means the muscles need to be fed, not tricked,” Bonci said.
However, Bonci did not rule out Kelce being able to return to the NFL if he takes the proper dietary measures.
“He's a trained athlete, and if he decides to play again, he knows what to do to be ready. It's patterns, not individual meals, that determine success or failure,” he said.
Jason Kelce of the Philadelphia Eagles eats ice cream upon his arrival for a game against the Cleveland Browns at Lincoln Financial Field on August 17, 2023, in Philadelphia. (Perry Knotts/Getty Images)
Kelce said he would only consider returning to the NFL if there was treatment for his arthritis.
“My playing days are over and I don't see any scenario that would lead me to think about playing again, other than maybe medicine will come up with a way to get rid of my arthritis,” he recently told The Associated Press.
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Kelce suggested on a March episode of his podcast that he regretted retiring following the end of last season after the Eagles signed Saquon Barkley in free agency.
“I couldn't be more optimistic… This is my regret,” Kelce said. “I knew when I retired that I was going to miss out on a spectacular season with the Philadelphia Eagles. And it's a shame. It really is a shame. I want to be a part of this with all my might.”
However, Kelce has insisted that he will remain retired.
Despite the decline of Kelce's Picks, the former Pro Bowler has said his weight has dropped since retiring, following the pattern of many former offensive linemen after retirement.
During an interview with GQ on June 26, the former Philadelphia Eagles offensive lineman said he had “lost almost 20 pounds” and that his goal was to lose another 20. Kelce said he weighed 295 pounds during his career.
Former NFL player Jason Kelce greets fans on the 18th hole of the 2024 American Century Championship at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course on July 14, 2024, in Stateline, Nevada. (Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images)
“It's hard to imagine losing another 50 pounds, to be honest,” Kelce said. “But my back feels better already. My knees feel better already.”
If Kelce maintains his weight, it could create an even bigger barrier to an NFL return, which is already unlikely. The offensive line position relies heavily on players maintaining a consistently high weight to compete, but with the added maintenance of muscle density, agility and speed in those larger frames. That’s why many former players cut back on high-calorie diets and slim down after they retire.
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Other former offensive linemen who have lost weight quickly after retirement include Russell Okung, who said he lost more than 100 pounds with a “water fast” in an X post in June 2023.
“Many retired players have noticed that during their playing days they needed to take in extra calories to maintain a higher weight. Once retired, that is no longer an issue for players who are trying to get to a more normal size,” Bonci said.
Bonci, who also worked with Jason's brother Travis with the Chiefs from 2015 through January 2024, said his best advice for offensive linemen like Kelce after his retirement is to focus on eating more produce and avoiding sports drinks and alcohol.
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