Even in retirement, Jason Kelce hasn’t stepped away from the sport. Football remains the through-line of his life, a constant presence on his ‘New Heights‘ podcast and through a multi-year deal with ESPN that put him on ‘Monday Night Countdown‘ and other NFL studio shows. He also took on a hosting role with ‘They Call It Late Night with Jason Kelce‘. That late-night chapter, however, is now set to close, as per Sam Neumann of Awful Announcing.

“Awful Announcing has learned that ESPN and Jason Kelce won’t be seeking a second season of his late-night show in 2026,” Neumann wrote in an X post. “That doesn’t mean the show has been canceled, but Kelce will explore other creative opportunities.”

The decision was reportedly Kelce’s own, driven by a desire to keep his options open during the offseason. Talks about the show’s future stretched throughout 2025, with discussions touching on everything from relocating production outside Philadelphia to reworking the format. Ultimately, Kelce signaled he was ready to step away and explore new opportunities.

Perhaps the choice not continue the show also stemmed from the challenges Kelce faced. In February 2025, he admitted on the Fitz & Whit podcast that it was challenging to pursue a comedy-driven format instead of a simple sports-talk show with panelists. Though he praised the writing team, he would look at his own tapes and identify areas of improvement.

The show’s run was strong enough to earn a Writers Guild Award nomination in the Comedy/Variety Talk Special category. The ceremony is scheduled for March 8, with events held in both New York and Los Angeles. But what really inspired the idea of a late-night show?

Conan O’Brien was the inspiration.

The NFL Films production even hired O’Brien’s former writers Andy Blitz and Jon Glaser.

Kelce watched O’Brien as a kid, and that’s exactly what made him want to experiment with a late-night segment. And the name of the show, ‘They Call It Late Night with Jason Kelce,‘ was a tribute to the NFL Films’ 1967 film ‘They Call it Pro Football’.

ESPN had remained supportive of continuing the show, but while that didn’t pan out, the network will work with him on other projects going forward. Kelce will continue working with them as an analyst for Monday Night Countdown and a correspondent for the NHL Stadium Series.

But instead of staying in the studio, he will now be right down by the ice, interviewing players. With his past playing experience, he will give fans a unique look at the game.

Everything to know about Jason Kelce’s new project with ESPN

Jason Kelce is trading the football field for the rink in a brand-new role, ESPN is calling the ‘Best Seat in the House’. During the upcoming Stadium Series, Kelce will be stationed right at ice level, giving fans an up-close look at the action. 

The broadcast will be a high-tech experience, featuring aerial views, Skycams, on-ice skatecams, and even special cameras mounted on the referees’ chests. To keep the energy high, ESPN plans to rotate different celebrity guests for Kelce to interview throughout the game at Raymond James Stadium.

While Kelce is famous for his legendary NFL career, he is actually a lifelong hockey fan. Back in high school, he was an impressive player, putting up 21 goals during his senior year. After moving to Philadelphia, he became a regular at Flyers games, fully embracing the city’s passion for the sport. His genuine knowledge of the game, combined with his huge personality, makes him the perfect fit for this experimental broadcast.

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This new adventure officially kicks off on February 1, just one week before the Super Bowl, as the Bruins take on the Lightning.

The location is especially meaningful because it is the same stadium where Kelce played his final NFL game before retiring. It’s a poetic return to Tampa, marking a major milestone in his rapidly growing media career.

Since hanging up his cleats, Kelce has been busier than ever. He continues to co-host the massive New Heights podcast with his brother, Travis Kelce, and serves as a regular analyst on Monday Night Countdown. Between his new NHL gig and his popular podcast, Kelce is quickly becoming one of the biggest names in sports broadcasting.