• Loading stock data...
Wednesday, July 9, 2025
exclusive
Tuned In

Tush Push Into Broadcasting. Jason Kelce Meets With ESPN and Fox About TV Career

  • The Eagles center, who has not yet committed to playing next year, met with both networks this week in Las Vegas.
  • CBS, NBC, and Amazon could join the hunt if he retires.
Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

LAS VEGAS—Jason Kelce is taking the first steps toward a TV career. The popular Eagles center was in Vegas this week and met with both ESPN and Fox Sports, Front Office Sports has learned.

Kelce has been hitting the blackjack tables, and he attended a U2 concert at the Sphere as he waits for brother Travis Kelce and the Super Bowl champion Chiefs to take on the 49ers. But he also appears to be putting in some work recon. Virtually every offseason there’s a retiring NFL player sought after by networks looking to bolster their football coverage. And while the 36-year old six-time All-Pro hasn’t announced an official decision about playing in 2024, he’s exploring his options.

According to a source with direct knowledge of the situation, Kelce met this week with ESPN to discuss possibly linking up; and FOS spoke to another source who witnessed Kelce meeting for the same purpose with Fox. (ESPN and Fox declined to comment.) Those talks are viewed as a preliminary “testing of the water;” he’s been “making the rounds” with various networks, according to one of the sources, and the expectation from both nets is that CBS, NBC and Amazon will join the hunt if Kelce officially becomes a TV free agent. 

The 13-year NFL veteran already boasts one of the most popular sports podcasts in the country, New Heights, with brother Travis. He’s squarely in the middle of non-stop media coverage of the romance between Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift; he endeared himself to millions of TV viewers by chugging beers with Bills fans; and in Vegas this week he told TMZ that he “obviously” would love to follow his brother’s footsteps and host Saturday Night Live.

Pressure’s on Shanahan and Romo, Says Mad Dog Russo

The two people with the most riding on Super Bowl Sunday are 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan and lead CBS analyst Tony Romo. That’s the word from sports radio broadcaster Chris “Mad Dog” Russo, who chatted with me Friday before hosting his show, SiriusXM’s Mad Dog Sports Radio, on Radio Row.

“Shanahan needs to win this game,” says Russo. “Nobody’s going to kill [49ers quarterback Brock] Purdy. [Chiefs QB Patrick] Mahomes has won a couple already. [Chiefs coach Andy] Reid’s a Hall of Famer. But Romo needs a good performance—and Shanahan needs to win.”

To be fair to Romo, the last two Super Bowls he called with Jim Nantz and Tracy Wolfson were dull, non-competitive affairs. But as a former Cowboys QB, Romo should realize that wins are the only things that matter.

“The Super Bowl is about the analyst. So we’ll see how he responds,” says Russo.

Mike Drops

Russo, by the way, knows what’s what. During our interview he correctly predicted the NFL’s exclusive streaming-only playoff game would move from Peacock to Amazon next season. Within hours, The Wall Street Journal reported the move. … And Speaking of Purdy, the former Mr. Irrelevant is making strides with marketers on Madison Avenue. Just before the Super Bowl he signed a national endorsement deal with Toyota, making him their first new athletic endorser since they became the NFL’s official automotive sponsor, in October. “He’s been an incredible story,” says Toyota exec Dedra DeLilli. In other words: Not so irrelevant. … Peyton and Eli Manning’s Monday Night Football ManningCast has been a hit. On Radio Row Friday, Eli told me he would welcome doing a ManningCast of ESPN’s upcoming first Super Bowl, following the 2027 season. “That would be fun,” he says. “I never thought of calling a Super Bowl. That was never in the game plan for me as a player. Obviously, these last few years, doing some of the broadcasts, going to watch Super Bowls all the time, it would be fun to do that with Peyton and call a game.”


—Michael McCarthy’s “Tuned In” column is at your fingertips every week with the latest insights and ongoings around sports media. If he hears it, you will, too.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Jun 28, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh (29) bats during the game between the Texas Rangers and the Seattle Mariners at Globe Life Field.

The Torpedo Bat Business Is Still Going Strong: ‘Here to Stay’

Demand for the oddly shaped bats has stayed strong across the sport.
exclusive

Fox Extends Erin Andrews, Charissa Thompson Contracts Ahead of NFL Season

Changes are coming at Fox, but Andrews and Thompson stay put.
Chelsea

Chelsea Club World Cup Run Banks at Least $100M for Mark Walter..

The Blues will likely take home between $100 million and $120 million.
Brooklyn, NY - June 25, 2025 - Barclays Center: Chiney Ogwumike on the set of NBA Today during round one of the 2025 NBA Draft

ESPN’s Chiney Ogwumike on Her Post-WNBA Second Act: ‘I Still Have to..

In her next chapter, Ogwumike is embarking on her new “greatest adventure.”

Featured Today

American Celebs Want to Be Sports Owners. Soccer Is Where They Start

As U.S. team prices climb, investors set their sights abroad.
July 5, 2025

Baseball’s Celebrity Row: Behind MLB’s First-Pitch Ritual

Often planned, sometimes spontaneous, the ritual throw is baseball’s celebrity row.
July 4, 2025

3,000 Hot Dogs, $20K in Prizes: Behind the Nathan’s Eating Contest

Nathan’s serves up thousands of hot dogs and $20,000 in prize money.
July 3, 2025

Geoffrey Esper Can’t Catch a Break at Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest

“Hot dogs is not one of my favorite competitions of the year.”
exclusive

CBS, NFL Host James Brown Discussing Contract Extension

The 74-year-old Brown has hosted a record 10 Super Bowl pregame shows.
Malika Andrews
exclusive
July 7, 2025

Joe Buck, Malika Andrews to Guest-Host ABC’s ‘Good Morning America’

Elle Duncan and Laura Rutledge have also had discussions.
July 7, 2025

ESPN Brings Pat McAfee to Atlanta for Home Run Derby Showcase

The Disney-owned network will bring one of its top stars to Atlanta.
Sponsored

Game On: Portfolio Players Stories, Brought to You by E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley

Dealmaker Jeffrey Kaplan maps the evolution of sports as an asset class
Dan Orlovsky and Ryan Clark
exclusive
July 7, 2025

Dan Orlovsky, ESPN Agree to Terms for Contract Extension

Orlovsky had faced possible free agency this summer with his contract ending.
exclusive
July 3, 2025

ESPN’s Jeremy Schaap Strives to Discover Joey Chestnut’s Secret

Schaap calls his second Hot Dog Eating Contest July 4.
opinion
July 3, 2025

Caitlin Clark’s Media Supporters Pushing Harder Against Slights

Dick Vitale, Colin Cowherd, and others are accusing other WNBA players of jealousy.
exclusive
July 1, 2025

ESPN, Fox Reluctant to Share Talent With Netflix for Christmas NFL Games

ESPN talents who worked last year’s games include Laura Rutledge and Mina Kimes.