Former Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce is preparing for a season without football. At 36 years old, this fall will mark the first time since childhood that Kelce isn’t a football player.
Instead, he will continue his podcasting career, taking on an on-air role on ESPN’s “Monday Night Football” and spending a lot of time at Buffalo Wild Wings on game days. In a new partnership with the fast food chain, Kelce has created his own personal menu, “Kelce’s Choice.”
Kelce highlighted two specific menu items he called his favorites for game day this year — the triple bacon cheeseburger and 10 traditional wings with Buffalo Bacon sauce.
That combination is not a meal 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 on Making the Right Nutrition Decisions with Sudent Athletes in Mind during the 2009 NCAA Photo via Getty Images Convention at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in Washington, DC (Photo by Stephen Nowland/NCAA via Getty Images)
“I would not recommend this kind of meal before the game. Not enough carbohydrates, too much fat, so it can cause digestive disorders. Even post-game, not the best for recovery,” Bonci told Fox News Digital.
“A meal like this once a week won’t have a significant impact on an active person, although the volume may be uncomfortable. It’s a heavy/calorie-heavy meal that’s also high in sodium. So, this can lead to increased thirst.”
According to the Buffalo Wild Wings nutrition guide, the two items combine for 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. of protein.
Bonci, who has been part of four Super Bowl-winning teams with the Chiefs and Steelers, believes this food collection can hamper the old offensive lineman’s ability to play.
“Of course, the O-line players are not small, but they still have to move quickly during the game, and that means that the muscles have to be loaded and not cheated,” said Bonci.
However, Bonci did not rule out that Kelce could return to the NFL if he takes the right dietary steps.
“He’s a trained athlete and, if he decides to play again, he knows what he needs to do to get him to play. It’s the pattern, not the individual meal, that makes the deal,” he said.
Jason Kelce of the Philadelphia Eagles eats an ice cream cone as he arrives for the game against the Cleveland Browns at Lincoln Financial Field on Aug. 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 expect any scenario that happens other than meds making a way to get rid of the arthritis that I’m going to entertain again,” he recently told The Associated Press.
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Kelce suggested on the March episode of his podcast that he regretted retiring after the end of the season after the Eagles signed Saquon Barkley in free agency.
“I couldn’t be more bullish. … That’s one thing I regret,” Kelce said. “I know that if I retire I will miss only the outstanding season for the Philadelphia Eagles. And it sucks. That’s it. I want to be a part of it so bad.”
However, Kelce has confirmed that he will retire.
Despite the decadence of “Kelce’s Choice,” the former Pro Bowler has said the weight has gone since retirement, following the pattern of many former offensive linemen after they retire.
During an interview on June 26 with GQ, he said the former Philadelphia Eagles offensive lineman “almost 20 pounds down” and aims to lose another 20. Kelce said he weighed 295 pounds during his career.
Former NFL player Jason Kelce waves to fans on the 18th hole of the 2024 American Century Championship at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course July 14, 2024, in Stateline, Nev. (Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images)
“It’s hard to imagine another nearly 20 pounds coming off, to be honest with you,” Kelce said. “But my back feels better. My knee feels better.”
If Kelce keeps the weight off, it can create even more of a barrier to return to the NFL has been believed. The offensive line position relies heavily on players maintaining a competitive weight consistently, but with the added benefit of maintaining muscle density, agility and speed on a larger frame. That’s why many former players cut calories and slim down after retirement.
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Other former offensive linemen who lost weight quickly after retirement include Russell Okung, who said he lost more than 100 pounds on a “water fast” in an X post in June 2023.
“Many retired players have noted that on game days they need to eat extra calories to maintain a higher weight. After retirement, it is not a problem for players who try to reach a more normal size,” said Bonci.
Bonci, who also worked with Jason’s brother Travis with the Chiefs from 2015 to January 2024, said the best advice for offensive linemen like Kelce after retirement is to focus on eating more produce and avoiding sports drinks and alcohol.
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