Jason Kelce has had an illustrious career as the starting center for the Philadelphia Eagles over the past decade.

Entering his 13th season in 2022, Kelce continues to be a pillar of consistency and excellence on the Eagles’ offensive line.

But just how great has Kelce’s career been when compared to the all-time great centers in NFL history?

Let’s take a deeper look at Kelce’s accolades, longevity, rankings among peers, and comparisons to legendary centers of the past to strengthen the case for Jason Kelce as one of the greatest to ever play the position.

Accolades

When examining individual accolades and honors, Kelce stands out among his peers at the center position. Perhaps most impressively, Kelce has earned a total of six First-Team All-Pro selections over the course of his career – the most by any player in their 30s. To put this in perspective, only nine other centers in NFL history have earned more than six career All-Pro nods. Kelce’s six selections ties him with Hall of Famers Jim Otto and Dermontti Dawson for the third most all-time at the position.

Beyond the All-Pro honors, Kelce has also been selected to the Pro Bowl roster six times. He was named Super Bowl LII MVP after a dominant performance to help lead the Eagles to victory over the New England Patriots. Kelce is the only center in NFL history with both six career All-Pro selections and a Super Bowl championship. His individual accolades clearly demonstrate Kelce’s sustained excellence and elite play at the highest levels over an extended period of time with the Eagles.

Longevity

In addition to his accomplishments, another factor that strengthens Kelce’s case is his incredible longevity and durability in the NFL. Entering his 13th season in 2022, Kelce will have played more seasons than any other active center in the league by a wide margin. Spending his entire career with the Eagles after being drafted by them in the sixth round of the 2011 NFL Draft further exemplifies Kelce’s consistency and impact on the franchise.

Playing through his age 34 season in 2022, Kelce will have appeared in at least 176 career regular season games if he stays healthy. Only five centers in NFL history have played in more total games – Jeff Saturday, Kevin Mawae, Dermontti Dawson, Jim Otto, and Tom Nalen. To still be performing at an elite level deep into his 30s is a testament to Kelce’s work ethic, preparation, and commitment to taking excellent care of his body. His durability and extended prime are characteristics that separate him from many other all-time greats at the position.

Rankings Among Peers

When discussing where Kelce ranks all-time among NFL centers, most analysts place him in the top three. Some make the argument he deserves consideration for the number two spot behind only Hall of Famer Mike Webster. Kelce’s sustained excellence over 13 seasons to date gives him a stronger case than other legendary centers who had shorter, but impressive careers like Dermontti Dawson or Jim Otto.

A 2021 article by Pro Football Focus had Kelce ranked as the second greatest center in NFL history behind only Mike Webster. They cited Kelce’s combination of accolades, longevity, and championship pedigree as reasons for the lofty ranking. A 2022 article by The 33rd Team also placed Kelce at number two all-time and called him a “lock” for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Most experts and analysts who study the position closely consider Kelce amongst the two best to ever play center when factoring in both peak performance and sustained greatness over a decade-plus career.

Comparisons to Legends

To truly gauge how special Kelce’s career has been, it’s worth comparing him to some of the other legendary names who established the standard of excellence at the center position. Three Hall of Famers that often come up in debates about the greatest centers are Chuck Bednarik, Mel Hein, and Jim Otto.

Chuck Bednarik – A two-way star for the Eagles in the 1950s, Bednarik earned eight First-Team All-Pro nods and won NFL championships in 1949 and 1960. However, he only played 12 NFL seasons compared to Kelce’s potential 13+. Kelce has already surpassed Bednarik’s career All-Pro selections and added a Super Bowl ring.

Mel Hein – A three-time NFL champion with the New York Giants in the 1930s, Hein earned five First-Team All-Pro selections. Like Bednarik, he played fewer seasons (11) than Kelce appears on pace for. Kelce has more All-Pros and played at a higher level for longer.

Jim Otto – Earned nine total All-Pro selections in his 15-year career with the Oakland Raiders. Otto dominated in the 1960s, but Kelce playing into his mid-30s gives him an edge in longevity and career achievements at this stage.

While Otto, Hein, and Bednarik set the standard at the position in different eras, Kelce’s career résumé now matches or exceeds what they accomplished when factoring in both individual honors and sustained greatness over nearly a decade and a half in the league. His combination of peak performance, championships, awards, and durability are unmatched in NFL history outside of possibly Mike Webster.

Conclusion

Ultimately, debates about the “greatest” player at any position are subjective without a definitive answer. However, based on the factors discussed – Jason Kelce’s individual accolades, consistency, championships, longevity, rankings among his peers, and comparisons to legendary centers of the past – a strong case can clearly be made that Kelce deserves consideration as one of the two best to ever play the position in NFL history. Kelce is undoubtedly amongst the elite company of Otto, Hein, Dawson, and others in the discussion for the top center ever. Barring any major decline in his 13th season, Kelce’s illustrious career resume should cement his eventual place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. While subjective rankings will always vary to some degree, Jason Kelce has undoubtedly established himself as one of the greatest centers to ever play the game.