Jason Kelce, a center for the Philadelphia Eagles and potential Hall of Famer, informed his teammates that he was retiring, league sources told ESPN.

The statement was made in the locker room by Kelce, who is regarded as one of the greatest centers in NFL history, following the Eagles’ 32-9 wild-card playoff defeat to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter on X.

The story was also reported by the Associated Press and Mike Garafolo of NFL Network.

Requests for comment were not immediately answered by the Eagles or a Kelce spokesperson.

In the locker room, Kelce, 36, refused to respond to inquiries regarding his future.

As reporters walked up to his locker, he said, “Not today,” according to NBC Sports.

Being a one-year player in 2023, Kelce will be a free agent in March and will be the fifth center in NFL history to have at least six choices for the All-Pro team. The Pro Football Hall of Fame is home to the other four players.

He is regarded as one of the key figures in Philadelphia’s contentious “tush push” plays. For quarterback Jalen Hurts and his pushing teammates, Kelce paves the way for Philadelphia’s extremely successful short-yardage plays.

After beginning the season 10-1, the Eagles have since lost six of their last seven games. They lost a thrilling game to the Kansas City Chiefs in the final seconds of the previous season.

Towards the end of his playing career, Kelce attained a level of celebrity that is uncommon for someone in one of the least noticeable positions in football.

He has been a successful commercial personality, pushing items like Campbell’s Soup and Tide laundry detergent. He was named one of People magazine’s Sexiest Men Alive.

Additionally, Travis Kelce, the tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs and brother of Taylor Swift, has been intimately linked to Kelce through their podcast.

Being one of the most well-liked athletes in the area, Kelce, an Ohio native from Cleveland Heights, has deeply assimilated into Philadelphia culture.

During the victory parade, Kelce wore a “Mummers” costume, following the Eagles’ 2018 Super Bowl triumph. Superb Mummers costumes are a much-loved custom of Philadelphia festivities.

NBCNews.com was the original home of this article.