Jason Kelce may not be regularly on ESPN airwaves, but when he does make an appearance, he’s absolutely earning his paycheck.
Following the end of his playing career, the former Philadelphia Eagles All-Pro center quickly became a hot commodity in sports media circles — and he’s made sure to capitalize on it.
The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand reported Thursday that Kelce signed a three-year, $24 million deal with ESPN ahead of the 2024 NFL season.
“He had offers from nearly every major network, before going with the highest known bidder in ESPN…”
In simpler terms, Jason Kelce is raking in Justin Simmons-level money at $8 million per year, which is quite comparable to what he was making in the later stages of his career in Philadelphia.
Beyond his appearances on Monday Night Countdown alongside Scott Van Pelt, Ryan Clark, and Marcus Spears, Kelce also has his own late-night show, They Call It Late Night with Jason Kelce. While the show didn’t exactly set the world on fire — with ratings to match its tepid reception — ESPN is clearly invested in the venture. Despite the less-than-stellar launch, ESPN President of Content Burke Magnus is confident the show will stick around beyond the Super Bowl.
However, Kelce’s primary role is truly driving the big bucks. His involvement in Monday Night Football — the crown jewel of ESPN’s broadcasting portfolio — came after a fierce bidding war between multiple networks, including the Worldwide Leader, of course.
And don’t forget — Jason Kelce already in place at ESPN is likely to ensure that his current employer gets a head start on bringing Travis Kelce into the fold when his playing days are over.
Given the demand, ESPN’s strategy seems like a calculated win.
