Jason Kelce, along with his brother Travis, have become the next major targets for the biggest media networks and streaming services.
Since launching in September 2022, the Kelce brothers’ “New Heights” podcast has exploded in popularity.
Jason and Travis Kelce have been reportedly in the process of shopping their podcast to various media brands all offseason, and could be in line for a big payday.
Eric Silver, the head of development at the podcast collective Multitude, told MarketWatch that the Kelce brothers could command a contract worth upwards of $100 million, which is what actors Will Arnett, Jason Bateman and Sean Hayes received from SiriusXM for their “SmartLess” podcast.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if it was around the same as ‘SmartLess.’ I wouldn’t be surprised if it was $100 million,” Silver said about Travis Kelce and his brother’s potential price as the continue negotiations.
“New Heights” currently ranks as the No. 1 American sports podcast on Spotify and the No. 2 American sports podcast on Apple. The brothers are also in the top 25 for all American podcasts on Spotify.
Theoretically, Jason Kelce could have more time to devote to podcasting after announcing his retirement from the NFL after 13 seasons.
“There is no chance I’d be here without the bond Travis and I share,” Jason Kelce said during his emotional 45-minute press conference. “It made me stronger, tougher, smarter, and taught me the values of cooperation, loyalty, patience, and understanding. It’s only too poetic I found my career being fulfilled in the City of Brotherly Love.”
Away from his podcast, there’s been plenty of speculation on Jason getting other TV roles — and one media expert said he would be more sought after than Bill Belichick — who isn’t coaching for the first time in decades.
The media opportunities don’t appear to be slowing down for Kelce anytime soon.
Jason Kelce Makes Major Announcement About Future Career
The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand reports Monday that former Philadelphia Eagles offensive lineman Jason Kelce is slated to join ESPN’s broadcast crew.
Kelce retired from a lengthy NFL career following the 2023-2024 season, getting his media career started with his brother Travis Kelce as a co-host to the podcast New Heights in September of 2022. But is now expected to take his game to another level, planning to join ESPN’s Monday Night Countdown crew this upcoming season.
During his playing career Jason Kelce became one of the most decorated offensive lineman of the generation, named a First-Team All-Pro six times and a Pro Bowler seven times in his 13-year NFL career. Also helping lead the Eagles to a Super Bowl LIII win over the New England Patriots.
But throughout his career, he’s also become one of the most beloved players across the NFL. Highlighted by the popularity of his podcast and off-the-field antics like appearances at WrestleMania and his work alongside his Eagles teammates on a Christmas album titled A Philly Special Christmas.
Kelce was also featured in a popular documentary during the 2022 NFL season titled Kelce that detailed his life on and off the field and was released on Amazon Prime Video. With Amazon joining NBC and CBS as other media companies that were interested in acquiring Kelce as a part of their football broadcast coverage ahead of the 2024-2025 football season following his retirement.
Marchand first reported about ESPN’s interest in Jason Kelce on March 27, revealing that ESPN was aggressively pursuing Kelce as they looked to re-work their Monday Night Football pregame show with Scott Van Pelt at the helm.
“ESPN is planning another Monday Night Football pregame shake-up, according to executives with knowledge of the network’s plans,” Marchand wrote in March. “A year after a complete makeover of the set under the stewardship of Scott Van Pelt, Robert Griffin III’s spot is in jeopardy, while the network is aggressively pursuing retired Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce for Monday nights.”
