30 April 2024 , 05:00
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Jason Kelce has made his choice on which TV network to join, opting for ESPN after turning down multiple offers. The former Philadelphia Eagles star was courted by Amazon, CBS and NBC but decided to team up with ESPN for the upcoming season.
At 36, Kelce hung up his boots in March following a distinguished 13-year stint with the Eagles, yet he won't be straying far from the NFL action. The Super Bowl champ is set to join forces with Marcus Spears, Ryan Clark, and host Scott Van Pelt on "Monday Night Countdown."
This gig marks Kelce's first foray into traditional media, having previously co-hosted the "New Heights" podcast with his brother Travis, the Kansas City Chiefs tight end. His last year in professional football was also captured in the documentary "Kelce," which premiered on Prime Video.
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Kelce's new role will see him back at NFL stadiums as part of the "Monday Night Football " pregame show, which hits the road this fall. The show also airs from ESPN's base in Bristol, Connecticut.
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"Monday Night Countdown" has seen its lineup evolve over the years, and that trend continues into this season. Last year saw Scott Van Pelt step in for Suzy Kolber, who had been at the helm since 2015 until her layoff.
The network has also parted ways with long-time contributor Steve Young. It appears Larry Fitzgerald and Robert Griffin III may be the next to depart the show's roster.
Jason Kelce visits on set of the Amazon Prime TNF pregame show (Getty Images)The Athletic has revealed that, following the news about Kelce, Fitzgerald's contract ended in February. Griffin is not expected to return, taking over from Randy Moss two years ago.
ESPN has scored a major win by signing Kelce, despite CBS and NBC being early frontrunners for his signature. CBS had even entered discussions with him around his retirement announcement time.
Front Office Sports disclosed that Kelce also engaged with Amazon, ESPN, and FOX during Super Bowl week in Las Vegas. Kelce was in talks about joining Amazon's "Thursday Night Football" after making a guest appearance on the show last season. Despite his documentary on their platform and his TNF appearance, Amazon didn't secure Kelce.
He's been gearing up for a broadcasting career since attending the NFL Media Workshop last April. Kelce shared his newfound appreciation for live broadcasting. "This is all new territory for me," he said. "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."
"It's a lot easier when you're sitting on the couch or have heard the name over and over. Certainly, some of the names are difficult to remember on the spot."