Recently retired former Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce said he’s unsure if his new role with the franchise creates a potential issue in relation to his new ESPN gig.
Kelce, who joined ESPN as an analyst for Monday Night Countdown and the Monday Night Football halftime show after retiring from the Eagles after 13 NFL seasons, was asked by his brother, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, if the network approved his continued locker room presence with the franchise on the latest episode of their New Heights podcast released on Wednesday (September 4).
“I don’t know what the rule is,” Jason responded.
The former Super Bowl champion said he’s not on the Eagles’ payroll, despite continuing to spend time at the team facility.
“For me, I’m not accepting any money from the Eagles. I don’t have an official position,” Jason said. “I’m really just going there out of pure interest on my own to keep my knowledge of the game up.
“And, obviously, I’ve built up a lot of relationships with the people around that building that I’m gonna help out in any way I can. But the reality is, that’s not my job.”
Kelce was reported to have “spent plenty of time around his former teammates at the Eagles’ practice facility throughout the offseason and training camp,” according to the Associated Press, leading to speculation about a potential comeback, which he publicly denied last month. The 36-year-old was selected as a first-team All-Pro for the third consecutive season before announcing his retirement on March 4.
Kelce is one of the most celebrated players in Eagles history, starting at center in all 193 games of his 13-year NFL career, including the franchise’s lone Super Bowl victory in Super Bowl LII, while being selected as a first-team All-Pro six times (2017-19, 2021-23) and Pro Bowler seven times (2014, 2016, 2019-23).