Jason Kelce is set to join ESPN’s “Monday Night Countdown” after retiring from the Philadelphia Eagles earlier this year, as per a source familiar with the agreement.
The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity to The Associated Press on Monday, revealed the deal, which is expected to be officially announced during ESPN/Disney’s upfront presentation to advertisers on May 14. The Athletic was first to report Kelce’s move.
Kelce is anticipated to take over from Robert Griffin III, who is expected to remain with the network as a college football analyst. Last season, Scott Van Pelt served as the host of the “Monday Night Football” pregame show, alongside analysts Marcus Spears and Ryan Clark.
Having played 13 seasons for the Eagles, Kelce was highly sought after by networks for the upcoming season. He participated in last year’s NFL Broadcasting and Media Workshop, previously known as the “Broadcast Bootcamp.”
Reflecting on his experience, Kelce said, “This is all new territory for me. I have even more respect for it now. It’s very hard to do something live, reactive of stimulus that just happened and having something clever and meaningful to say.”
Kelce previously appeared on Prime Video’s “Thursday Night Football” during the Eagles’ bye week last season, serving as an analyst during the second quarter of a game between the Carolina Panthers and Chicago Bears.
Despite his new role, Kelce is expected to continue hosting his “New Heights” podcast with his brother, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce.
With Kelce’s move finalized, former New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick emerges as the top TV free agent. Belichick garnered positive feedback for his analysis on Pat McAfee’s livestream during the first round of the NFL draft last week.
