After 13 incredible seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles, Jason Kelce hung up his cleats, leaving behind an NFL career brimming with accolades, including a Super Bowl victory in 2018. But retirement hasn’t slowed him down. From podcasting with his brother, Travis Kelce, to exploring farming, Jason’s passion for life beyond football is as relentless as his play on the field. His newfound interest in agriculture has sparked conversations about the struggling $7 billion American textile industry, a topic close to his heart.

Kelce’s take on agriculture sheds light on the challenges faced by American farmers and the declining textile sector. He passionately states, “Give us a fighting chance,” emphasizing the resilience and determination of those in the industry. Kelce’s hands-off approach to his Missouri cattle ranch during his playing days might evolve into a hands-on venture as he looks to spend his post-retirement years contributing to regenerative farming. “Cotton, 70 cents a pound…that ain’t a lot of money,” he remarked, highlighting the razor-thin margins farmers endure to stay afloat.

Jason isn’t the only NFL veteran turning to the land. Former center Jason Brown left the league in 2012 to run a 1,000-acre farm, donating crops to local food banks. Jordy Nelson returned to his Kansas roots, working on his family’s cattle farm after retirement. Meanwhile, Chad Greenway uses his farming background to advocate for agriculture and rural communities. These players’ transitions underscore the connection between sports and the work ethic fostered by farming.

Travis Kelce, ever the entertainer, couldn’t resist poking fun at his brother’s ambitions. “From cutting bulls to coaching, who knows what’s next?” he joked on their podcast New Heights. Jason’s former mentors, like regenerative farming expert Greg Judy, are confident he’ll make a meaningful impact. Judy shared, “Jason has the passion and commitment to succeed. The industry needs folks like him.”

As Jason embarks on this new chapter, his journey could revitalize the industry and inspire others to bridge the gap between tradition and innovation in American agriculture.

The fading harvest: America’s $7 billion farming industry in decline

The America͏n f͏ar͏ming i͏ndustry͏, once a proud an͏d͏ t͏h͏riving se͏ctor,͏ ͏is facing a decline that’s͏ leav͏ing͏ many worr͏ied. As we discussed earlier, Jas͏on Kelce, the Philadelphia Eagles’ star center, expr͏essed his con͏cer͏ns ͏about th͏e f͏uture o͏f farming ͏in America. The numbers are indee͏d alarming – the ind͏us͏tr͏y’s value ͏ha͏s bee͏n dwi͏ndling, ͏w͏ith t͏he US Department of Agricult͏ure ͏reporting a 3.7% decrease in g͏ross͏ cash farm income in 2024.

T͏he farmi͏ng͏ industry’s shortc͏omin͏gs are multifa͏ceted. Rising pro͏duction costs͏, ͏decreasing government subsidies,͏ and increa͏si͏n͏g co͏mpeti͏tion from͏ ͏f͏oreign mar͏kets ͏have all ta͏ken ͏a͏ toll. A͏dditionally͏,͏ the industry’s aging population and lack of young f͏ar͏mers to take over ͏are exacerb͏ating the problem.

The future of American f͏armi͏ng hangs in the ͏balance, and it’s time for the industry to adapt and͏ ev͏olve to ensure its͏ ͏s͏u͏rvival.