‘Not a cookie-cutter NFL analyst’: Jason Kelce beefs up ESPN’s star power

PHILADELPHIA — Jason Kelce definitely qualifies as a “personality hire.” 

It’s why ESPN coveted his broadcasting services for the 2024 NFL season after all. 

“He kept asking ‘What do you expect from me? What do you want?’ And we’re like, ‘We just want you to be you,’” ESPN vice president of production, Seth Markman, told USA TODAY Sports.

Kelce joined the network’s “Monday Night Countdown” desk alongside host Scott Van Pelt and fellow analysts Marcus Spears and Ryan Clark. Every company that airs the NFL lined up meetings to convince the former Philadelphia Eagles center to join their shop because of his engaging personality. 

“It’s unique. He dresses different. He sounds different,” said Markman, who oversees ESPN’s college football and NFL studio programming. “He’s not a cookie-cutter NFL analyst.” 

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Indeed, Kelce sported a kelly-green Italian tracksuit and kicked off Monday’s edition of “Countdown” in style by hyping up a frenzied crowd outside of Lincoln Financial Field. As a DJ pumped music behind him, Kelce screamed into a microphone — not unlike his brother and podcast cohost Travis did after winning Super Bowl 58 — and introduced his former Eagles teammates Fletcher Cox, a fellow first-year retiree, and Nick Foles, who was honored before Philadelphia hosted the Atlanta Falcons on “MNF.” 

“I think people see him as an everyman, they really do, and they relate to him,” Markman said. “He’s so likable. And I think it cuts through.” 

Kelce made his way from one stage to the “Countdown” set and high-fived fans as security paved a way like he did for many Eagles ball-carriers over his 13-year NFL career. As he took his chair in between Spears and Clark, Kelce wiped his head and hands with a blue towel. 

“I don’t know that I have any more energy you guys,” he said. 

During the show, Kelce hold harsh truths about the Carolina Panthers after the team announced second-year quarterback Bryce Young would be benched. He made a remark about how a referee who displayed nifty athleticism during Justin Jefferson’s 97-yard touchdown on Sunday should have Next Gen Stats. The six-time All-Pro turned and waved to the fans who canted his name and held up his No. 62 jersey during one commercial and break.  

“This city’s incredible, man,” Kelce said during the show. “It really is. It’s so unique.” 

To help make room for Kelce on “Countdown,” the network moved on from Robert Griffin III, who was let go in what was considered a financial decision. Concerns about chemistry when a new voice joins a show always exist, Markman said. Kelce’s current popularity levels, at an all-time high thanks to his podcast and brother Travis’ romance with Taylor Swift, could have complicated things. Markman brought up the possibility of adding Kelce to the “Countdown” crew, and he said they were receptive to his addition. 

“He draws a lot of attention, especially here,” Markman said. “But these guys are so unselfish and they realize that adding him helps the show.” 

During the third quarter of Monday’s game, Kelce called the game in the ESPN broadcast booth alongside announcers Joe Buck and Troy Aikman. Kelce had expressed interest in trying it out and an Eagles home game made sense, Markman said. The goal was to not have the experiment sound like a celebrity interview. 

“I think it got better as it went,” Kelce said in a brief interview upon his exit from the broadcast booth.

Trying to figure out where he fit in between a duo that’s called games for 23 seasons together was a tall first order. Kelce was asked about his retirement press conference and he had plenty of time to break down the game of his replacement, Eagles center Cam Jurgens. Kelce stayed on well into the fourth quarter as the Eagles embarked on a nine-minute, 34-second drive.

In honor of Kelce, the Eagles converted two ‘Tush Push’ plays, the second of which was a one-yard Jalen Hurts touchdown that put Philadelphia ahead.

“(Buck and Aikman) set me up pretty good a few times,” Kelce said. “I think everybody saw Tom Brady’s first-week performance and had a lot of criticism for it. He bounced back this week and had a great one. I got to see why that’s so hard first-hand, for sure.

“When you’re doing that live, in the moment, in real time, it’s difficult.”

Markman said he thinks Kelce could develop into a solid color commentator. For now, “Countdown” suits Kelce’s lifestyle. But he might want to call games one day, Markman said.  

‘Fun to be on this side too,’ Kelce said during the broadcast.

Any of the other networks would have been happy to have Kelce in any capacity. During Kelce’s initial meeting with ESPN, he expressed what “MNF” meant to him and his brother growing up in Cleveland Heights, Ohio. 

“I thought that gave us a little bit of a leg-up, the relationships and how he felt about our brand,” Markman said. “Honestly, I knew all the other networks were in. And you don’t know. You’re hoping and hoping and trying to convince – I had a good feeling but not like a ‘This is a sure thing.’ When his agent called and gave us the good news, it was an amazing feeling.” 

Kelce said he liked that ‘Countdown’ is done on-site every week, as he clearly feeds off energy from his surroundings. He also confirmed how much ESPN meant to him in his youth. 

“ESPN as a network was ingrained (in us), it was on in our household all growing up,” he said.

Trainers who taped his ankles are now producers who provide talking points. Security guards who said hello to him on Broad Street every day are now sound engineers.

“There’s a lot of similarities to playing a sport,” Kelce said of his new broadcasting career.

Kelce’s addition is part of ESPN beefing up the star power behind the “MNF” brand in recent years. The “Manningcast” with Peyton and Eli Manning became an instant success during the 2021 season. Buck and Aikman making the move from FOX to “MNF” ended the search for a reputable booth. In 2024, Bill Belichick is joining the “Manningcast” for every episode. 

“I think we’ve made a concerted effort to say ‘This is our number one property, this is ‘Monday Night Football,’ and we’re going to put the biggest and best names on this property,” Markman said. “That’s why adding Bill and Jason this year makes us feel even better about what we have – it’s important to us.”