Jason Kelce was involved in an altercation with a fan at a college football game over the weekend, and the former Philadelphia Eagles star addressed the incident on live television Monday.
Kelce attended the big Ohio State-Penn State game on Saturday at Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pa. While he was walking outside the stadium, a fan captured a video that showed Kelce destroying the cell phone of a heckler who called Kelce’s brother Travis a gay slur. You can see the clip here.
Kelce, who works as an analyst for ESPN, spoke about the altercation at the start of the network’s “Monday Night Countdown” coverage of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers-Kansas City Chiefs game. Kelce said he is not proud of the way he reacted.
“I’m not happy with anything that took place. I’m not proud of it,” Kelce said. “In a heated moment, I chose to greet hate with hate, and I just don’t think that that’s a productive thing. I really don’t. I don’t think that it leads to discourse and is the right way to go about things. In that moment I fell down to a level that I shouldn’t have.
“I think the bottom line is I try to live my life by the golden rule. That’s what I’ve always been taught. I try to treat people with common decency and respect and I’m gonna keep doing that moving forward, even though I fell short this week. I’m gonna do that moving forward and continue to do that.”
Jason Kelce opens "Monday Night Countdown" with an apology.
"I chose to greet hate with hate, and I just don't think that's a productive thing." pic.twitter.com/9rScqAKpVD
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) November 4, 2024
Kelce is known for having an outgoing personality, which is why he was a lock to land a prominent media gig after his career as a center with the Eagles ended. He has gone viral on several occasions for wholesome interactions with fans, so what happened on Saturday was viewed as out of character for him.
The 36-year-old Kelce spent his entire 13-year NFL career with the Eagles. He made the Pro Bowl seven times, was a First-team All-Pro six times, and won a Super Bowl. He is in his first season with ESPN.
