Jason Kelce tasted defeat in Super Bowl LVII, and the pain of the game lingered. 

So when Kelce was deciding on if he wanted to return for a 13th season with the Philadelphia Eagles, it was the Super Bowl loss that brought out the desire to keep playing. 

"I do think it played a factor," Kelce said Friday on The Rich Eisen Show. "I don't think it should. I wish it didn't. But I do think that when you go that far and get that close and it doesn't happen, I think your emotions and energy get going, and you want to do that. You know it's close, and you know the team is gonna be good next year as long as everybody stays healthy. We're returning a lot of pieces on offense. So, yeah, that all plays a factor.

"If it was a different situation, I don't know what the answer would be. I still think I would play."

The Eagles surprised the NFL and arrived ahead of schedule with phenom quarterback Jalen Hurts. 

Kelce played a major part in keeping Hurts upright and the running game humming while Philadelphia charged through the league with relative ease. As a result, the Eagles found themselves in their fourth Super Bowl appearance in franchise history. 

Unlike the last, a victory for Kelce in 2018, this trip to the league's preeminent game fell short of a championship ring, but Kelce believes the roster is still ready to compete in 2023. 

Philadelphia returned its top-five pass-catchers from last year: DeVonta Smith, A.J. Brown, Dallas Goedert, Quez Watkins, and Kenneth Gainwell. 

Hurts is working through a contract extension with the team that, in recent reports, suggest could be a Patrick Mahomes-style contract in terms of length and dollar amount. 

In the run game, Philadelphia brought in Rashaad Penny. 

Penny doesn't have the best track record regarding injuries. 

The toughest loss for the Eagles on offense is probably Miles Sanders who signed a contract with the Carolina Panthers in the early days of free agency. 

Still, Kelce is eager to again be part of an offensive group that can set NFL records when playing together. 

"The physical part, knock on wood wherever there is, I'm in pretty good shape for a guy going into his 13th year," said Kelce, who hasn't missed a start since 2014. "I've got some knee pain, ankle pain, this and that, but it's really what you're talking about — the mental grind. The level of attention you have to have on a daily basis to do it right. Because part of my job is, one, being prepared myself. Two, being prepared to put everybody in the right position. Center, quarterback, middle linebacker and safety are the four spots on the field where you get to actively make other players play better or influence how they play.

"Just by the calls you make. Just by the communication that you do. To do that well requires attention in the meeting rooms, requires film study, requires communication throughout the week. And all of that takes energy and effort. And all of that ultimately on some levels gets distracted from other areas of my life. You have to really think whether you're willing to do that again.

"I was still in a position where I felt like for another year I wanted to do that. I do think losing the Super Bowl does play a factor, but I think ultimately, I still want to play football."

Kelce had a few reasons for returning, but it is clear, he has another Super Bowl set in his sights.