Jason Kelce is set to make his debut in the late-night television arena early next year.
During a recent visit to ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” on Thursday, Kelce revealed that he will be the host of a new show titled “They Call It Late Night with Jason Kelce” on ESPN.
The hour-long program will record five consecutive Fridays starting January 3, aligning perfectly with the concluding week of the NFL’s regular season and the onset of the playoffs.
The show will be filmed before a live audience at Union Transfer in Philadelphia.
The first four episodes are scheduled to air at 1 a.m. EST from January 4, while the finale will air at 1:30 a.m. EST on February 1.
Expressing his enthusiasm for late-night formats, Kelce shared on Kimmel’s program, “I’ve always enjoyed late-night shows.
I remember during sleepovers tuning into Conan O’Brien with my friends.”
He hinted at inviting an array of guests, stating, “We’ll have a bunch of guys up there — game legends, friends from my playing days, coaches, and celebrities.”
Providing the musical backdrop for the show will be the Philadelphia-based band Snacktime.
The show’s title pays tribute to the 1967 NFL Films movie, “They Call It Pro Football,” which marked the production company’s first feature film.
Originating from Philadelphia, NFL Films was founded by Ed and Steve Sabol, who are both honored in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
The film notably featured the iconic narration of John Facenda, who transitioned from local Philadelphia news to becoming the voice of NFL Films.
The production of the show will be a collaboration between NFL Films, Kelce’s Wooderboy Productions, and Skydance Sports.
Each episode will also be broadcast on replays on ESPN2 and will be accessible on ESPN+, YouTube, and Kelce’s dedicated YouTube channel.
Currently, Kelce is in the first year of a multi-year contract with ESPN.
He participates in the network’s “Monday Night Countdown” show and provides insights during halftime and postgame assessments.
After 13 seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles, he retired at the conclusion of the previous season, becoming a highly sought-after personality for broadcasting roles.
He has even taken part in the NFL Broadcasting and Media Workshop, previously known as the “Broadcast Bootcamp.”
Recently, Kelce has garnered attention for a few other incidents.
He was involved in a tense exchange with a fan in State College, Pennsylvania, prior to the Penn State vs. Ohio State game on November 2.
A fan heckled Kelce, reportedly shouting an anti-gay slur directed at his brother, Travis Kelce, who is dating pop sensation Taylor Swift.
Footage captured Kelce confronting the fan and knocking his phone to the ground.
Following the altercation, he issued an apology on ESPN on November 4.
On Thursday night, another autograph seeker confronted Kelce outside the El Capitan Entertainment Center in Hollywood, where “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” is recorded.
Video footage acquired by TMZ depicts Kelce explaining his reluctance to sign autographs for individuals following him around.
After enduring over two minutes of verbal harassment, he eventually exited his vehicle and agreed to sign autographs, even going so far as to shake hands with a man who had been hurling insults at him.