Jason Kelce Doesn’t Hold Back on Possible Eagles Return While Getting Banned by ESPN

“More often than not, the easy way is the wrong way.” That’s a lesson Jason Kelce learned early and lived by throughout his football journey. Football was hard. Physically, mentally, and emotionally. Yet he loved it so much he willingly embraced the daily grind. Even when it hurt and he wanted to quit. In his retirement speech, Kelce looked back at a career that began in the cool morning dew of a high school field and spanned over 13 brutal, beautiful seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles. 

He recalled the pain of holding penalties and the frustration of underperforming, painfully aware that many wanted him gone after a rough 2016 season. “Hell, if I was in charge, I would have pulled the trigger,” he admitted. But thanks to unwavering belief from coaches like Jeff Stoutland, he kept fighting. In the end, Kelce retired with, “So this all brings us here to today where I announce that I am retiring from the NFL…And today, I must admit, I am officially overrated.”

Now, in 2025, when Kelce appeared on Bussin’ with the Boys, he went all out to express his feelings on football. And it sounds like a man talking himself into a comeback. So, when asked what he would do anything for, his answer was honest and straightforward. “I mean, ice cold beer. I’m not going to turn that down one bit…[But] I would go back out on the field in a heartbeat. I would give anything to be able to play football again.” Though he admitted, “I don’t think I can do that anymore, but I’d like thoroughly miss being out there with the guys and playing the game.”

That love for Philadelphia, football, and his boys runs deep. “I cherish the time out there with the guys. And again, like I when you’re in it, you hate going through the grind of training camp and like the two like we did two days in high school and college, but you know, you hate those moments.” And call him “masochist,” if you will, but he missed the grind of his NFL days. “When you’re done, you like those are the ones that you kind of miss. Like I miss, you know, being my shoulder, hurting and being bloody and like trying to fight through a practice. Like I miss  my shoes squeaking with sweat out of them while I’m like walking across the field.”

So why won’t he come back? Simply put: the body won’t cooperate. Kelce explained in his retirement and podcast appearances that his elbows, knees, and ankles have deteriorated beyond what even his love for football can overcome. “I don’t think physically I can compete at the level that I want to anymore,” he said. “If I got out there and I’m not the player I want to be, it’ll crush me.” Calls to teammates and his own competitive soul can’t hide the hard truth. The physical toll is real, and the recovery is slower than ever. No football comeback looming on the horizon for this Philly legend. But there’s another harsh reality waiting for him.

Jason Kelce gets sidelined by ESPN

Jason Kelce’s post-retirement media career hit a headline recently for more than just his analysis or viral podcast episodes. When YouTube approached him to be part of their inaugural NFL broadcast covering the Chiefs vs. Chargers game in Brazil, ESPN shut it down. And they didn’t give any warning or wiggle room. According to Front Office Sports, ESPN firmly declined the request. The platform made it clear that Kelce wouldn’t be part of the YouTube stream.

The reason? ESPN’s freshly enforced exclusivity policy for on-air talent blocks anyone signed by them from appearing on competitor platforms. Like YouTube or Netflix during NFL broadcasts. As per The Athletic, ESPN pays Kelce $24 million over three years to be loyal to Monday Night Countdown. They want exclusivity and no sharing, even if that means missing out on one of the NFL’s most engaging voices joining his brother, Travis Kelce’s, big game. 

That strict stance isn’t just about Kelce. It reflects the bigger battle brewing between traditional sports networks and streaming platforms, which are aggressively stepping into live sports. Networks like ESPN, which shell out multi-million-dollar deals, are protecting their investments fiercely. YouTube’s NFL venture is new, Netflix is ramping up NFL games too, and ESPN is drawing a clear line over its talent pool.