Jason Kelce finds next gig, joins ESPN’s Monday Night crew
AP Photo/Matt Rourke
The mouse has officially won the Jason Kelce bid.
ESPN has announced that Kelce, who retired in March after 13 seasons, will join the cast of Monday Night Countdown, appearances on Postseason NFL Countdown, and the station’s Super Bowl coverage, including Super Bowl LXI on ESPN/ABC in 2027. The release also says, “further opportunities will be explored.”
The Super Bowl LII champion will join Scott Van Pelt, Ryan Clark, Marcus Spears, Adam Schefter, and Michelle Beisner-Buck on Monday Night Countdown weekly. He will also join Van Pelt and Clark during halftime of Monday Night Football.
“Jason is a highly respected, Super Bowl Champion with a strong connection to fans,” said Burke Magnus, ESPN President of Content. “Walking off the field and immediately to ESPN, viewers will benefit from his perspective which has been shaped through his years as an established locker room leader and a future Hall of Fame center. Jason’s addition to Monday Night Countdown will greatly strengthen our NFL coverage.”
Honestly, I did not even know that Disney got a Super Bowl game. That should be interesting.
The six-time All-Pro had plenty of options outside of ESPN, but money talks. The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand reported that NBC and CBS were in on the seven-time Pro Bowler. Amazon was also interested, which makes sense since they made a documentary on him last season.
“Turns out, it was a short retirement! I’m excited to join ESPN, and particularly the Monday Night Countdown team,” 36-year-old Kelce said. “ESPN was a consistent presence in our household growing up and the network helped shape who I am and my love of all sports. To now appear on that same screen is a full-circle moment. And, I mean it’s freaking Monday Night Football! and I’m ready for some football.”
I thought he was going to Prime Video. It made too much sense. The documentary, he shadowed a Thursday Night broadcast in the booth last season, and he probably would have had a larger role with them than he does now with ESPN. But money is money.
I hope Kelce is able to receive that “larger role” that will be “explored,” per the release. He deserves it. Honestly, he is the exact guy I would want behind a microphone doing color. He may be a bit too energetic for dull Joe Buck. Buck has also created good chemistry with Troy Aikman. But maybe in the future, some pieces could be moved, and Kelce can find a spot in the booth. We have seen what he has been able to do on his New Heights podcast. Why not take it to national television?
Imagine him and John Kruk together. Would be pure comedy.
Good for Jason.
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