Jason Kelce and CBS have already held talks about bringing him on as part of their NFL coverageGetty Images
If newly retired NFLer Jason Kelce “wants to be on an NFL studio show, he will have options with NBC, CBS and ESPN the likeliest landing spots,” according to sources cited by Andrew Marchand of THE ATHLETIC. Kelce, who officially retired yesterday after 13 seasons with the Eagles, is “in a strong position” as his very popular podcast -- “New Heights” with his brother, Chiefs TE Travis Kelce -- has the “potential to make millions in a separate partnership.” NBC added former NFLer Devin McCourty last season and could “look at Kelce as a perfect partner as it retools its roster, getting younger and more contemporary.” Meanwhile, Kelce and CBS “have already held talks.” CBS has a “wide-open desk after the Super Bowl,” as Nate Burleson, Bill Cowher, Boomer Esiason and Phil Simms are all free agents. While NBC and CBS are “viewed as the favorites,” ESPN is always a “stalking horse and has interest.” Fox's desk is “already full and its shows are on the West Coast, making it an unlikely destination.” Amazon Prime Video could “only offer a contributor spot on ‘Thursday Night Football’” -- but if the Kelces “brought their podcast under the Amazon umbrella, it could be part of a bigger deal” (THE ATHLETIC, 3/4).
INTERNATIONAL NAME: In Philadelphia, EJ Smith wrote Kelce “will have no shortage of options in retirement.” His success hosting the New Heights podcast with his brother and moonlighting on “Thursday Night Football” during the Eagles’ bye week “led to him meeting with television executives from several networks last month to discuss broadcasting opportunities.” He would also “potentially be welcome to join the Eagles organization in some capacity” -- similar to roles filled by former NFLers Connor Barwin, Brent Celek and Darren Sproles -- if he chose to do so (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 3/4). ESPN.com’s Tim McManus wrote Kelce became a “local icon after the Eagles' Super Bowl LII win in 2018.” That has since “ballooned into national and now international fame,” starting with the Eagles-Chiefs "Kelce Bowl" and the brothers' popular podcast, then hitting another level of the stratosphere when brother Travis started dating Taylor Swift, "one of the most recognizable people on the planet" (ESPN.com, 3/4).
