Jason Kelce Crossed the Line on Live TV – Watch What Made Fans Explode!

Jason Kelce’s return to Philadelphia on ESPN’s “Monday Night Football” quickly became the focus of the broadcast, overshadowing the game between the Eagles and the Falcons. Kelce, now an analyst after retiring from the NFL, made a special appearance at Lincoln Financial Field, the place he once called home for 13 seasons as a player.

The former Eagles center understood that his presence dominated the screen, especially for viewers outside of Philadelphia. “Atlanta had to deal with me for four hours before things got rough for the Eagles,” he joked on the “New Heights” podcast, which he co-hosts with his brother, Travis Kelce. This comment came in the wake of the Eagles’ Week 2 loss.

During the podcast, Kelce addressed the fans in Atlanta directly, apologizing—though not wholeheartedly. “…Listen, I want to apologize to Falcons fans watching because I understand that you just had to watch just a Philadelphia celebration and a parade of a former player coming back home.” However, when Travis chimed in, saying, “We all deserved to see that, that was what people wanted to see,” and praised ESPN for doing a “great job,” Jason humorously backtracked. “I want to apologize but I’m not going to because it was f–king awesome.”

Kelce, who stepped away from the NFL in March, was invited back to Lincoln Financial Field as part of the pregame festivities for Philadelphia’s home opener. The broadcast showed him hyping up the crowd before the game and later joining legendary commentators Joe Buck and Troy Aikman in the booth for the third quarter.

Reflecting on his return to the stadium, Kelce was nostalgic but self-aware. “How crazy is it? The first time I’m back in the building I’m commenting on a game?” he marveled. “…Before the game, being out in the parking lot, the countdown, being up in the booth with Joe and Troy, it was really, really awesome for me. So selfishly, I am just beyond happy that that was kind of how I get to remember my first time being in the Linc not as a player. At the same time, I fully understand why a bunch of Atlanta people hate my guts right now, so I apologize.”

Although Kelce was the highlight for much of the night, the Falcons ultimately took the victory. A late touchdown from Kirk Cousins to Drake London put Atlanta ahead 22-21. Despite the Eagles getting another shot with 34 seconds left, a Jalen Hurts interception ended their hopes of a comeback.

The game’s outcome wasn’t the only thing stirring conversation. ESPN’s coverage, which heavily favored the Eagles and Jason Kelce’s return, didn’t go unnoticed. Jimmy Traina from Sports Illustrated remarked, “I can’t imagine what a Falcons fan must have thought of that second half when their team was completely ignored before pulling off a stunning comeback.” Kyle Brandt from Good Morning Football echoed these sentiments, saying on NFL Network, “The E in ESPN stood for Eagles.”

Next up for the “Monday Night Football” crew is a trip to Buffalo for Week 3, as the Bills host the Jaguars. Only time will tell if Kelce’s return to Western New York will be as attention-grabbing as his Philadelphia homecoming.