Shaquille O'Neal's Crucial Advice to Jason Kelce on Life After Retirement

• NBA
• NFL
• Shaquille O'Neal
• Jason Kelce

Recently, the basketball legend Shaquille O'Neal shared a few words of wisdom with Jason Kelce from the Philadelphia Eagles. In a candid conversation, O'Neal advised Kelce on the importance of valuing family time should he decide to retire from his professional football career.

"Don't be an idiot like me. I made a lot of dumb mistakes and lost my family, so I just told him to enjoy his beautiful wife [Kylie Kelce], enjoy his kids, and you know, be happy." - Shaquille O'Neal

O'Neal's advice comes from a deeply personal place, reflecting on his failed marriage with ex-wife Shaunie O'Neal. The couple, who were wedded from 2002 to 2011, split the same year O'Neal retired from his illustrious basketball career. They also parent five children together. In 2022, O'Neal took responsibility for the dissolution of their marriage, admitting that he failed to protect their vows to each other.

Connecting on Common Ground

O'Neal confessed to Page Six that he found a strong connection with Kelce, identifying their shared family-oriented mindset. He complimented Kelce as "a beautiful guy" and mentioned their mutual respect for their parents. He also drew parallels between Kelce's relationship with his brother, Travis, and his camaraderie with former Lakers teammate Kobe Bryant, stating that such relationships breed champions.

Jason Kelce, a father of three, has managed his NFL career and podcasting endeavors simultaneously. However, recent reports suggest that he might retire after the current season. ESPN's Adam Schefter revealed that Jason informed his Eagles teammates about his potential retirement plans following their season-ending wild card loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Life Beyond the Field

O'Neal successfully turned into a sports commentator and TV personality after his NBA retirement and sees a similar future for Kelce. When asked about the football player's prospects in media and entertainment, he responded affirmatively, praising Kelce's sense of humor, educational background, and exceptional speaking skills.

As O'Neal's advice to Kelce suggests, retirement from professional sports opens up new opportunities but also requires a careful balance of personal and professional life. While the limelight might fade, the importance of family becomes more prominent, an aspect O'Neal wishes he had understood earlier in his life.