Penn State University police have decided not to file any charges against retired Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce following an investigation into a confrontation he had with a fan prior to a college football game on November 2 between Penn State and Ohio State.
Jacqueline Sheader, public information officer for University Police and Public Safety, confirmed in an email that the investigation has concluded without any charges being made against Kelce. This information was initially reported by the Philadelphia Inquirer, which stated that the matter had been closed.
Sheader also noted that the individual seen in a viral video related to the incident has not been identified, and there have been no complaints reported to police regarding any damage to personal property.
The incident log from the police department mentioned an entry where an officer observed damage being caused to a visitor’s personal belongings.
Social media footage captured Kelce walking through a crowd outside Beaver Stadium, where he was interacting with fans and responding to requests for photos and fist bumps. During this time, one fan started to heckle Kelce, directing an anti-gay slur at him pertaining to his brother, Travis Kelce, who is a tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs and is currently dating pop star Taylor Swift.
In the same footage, Kelce was seen taking the fan’s phone and throwing it onto the ground. He then confronted the fan, who was wearing Penn State gear, and appeared to reciprocate with an anti-gay slur. The situation was defused when another fan intervened to separate the two before things escalated further.
Kelce later expressed remorse for his actions during the pregame segment of ESPN’s Monday Night Football. He acknowledged, “In a heated moment, I decided to greet hate with hate. I fell short this week,” reflecting on the unfortunate exchange.