Philadelphia Eagles legend Jason Kelce recently found himself at the center of controversy after a tense exchange during a college football game. The incident, which took place on November 2 at the Penn State-Ohio State game, saw Kelce smashing a fan’s phone after the individual allegedly used a homophobic slur to insult his brother, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. Videos of the altercation quickly spread across social media, igniting widespread debate and attracting media attention.
In the video clips verified by NBC News, Jason Kelce appeared to react strongly after a fan's derogatory remark about his brother. The former NFL center turned analyst confronted the fan, seemingly grabbing and smashing the individual's phone in response. The clip also captures Kelce retaliating with the same slur that was initially used against his brother, an act he later expressed regret over.
Before the November 4 "Monday Night Football" matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Kelce took a moment during ESPN's "Monday Night Countdown" to address the incident directly. In his apology, Kelce admitted that his reaction was uncharacteristic and fell short of the values he tries to uphold.
“You know, listen, I think everybody's seen on social media everything that took place this week. I’m not happy with anything that took place. I'm not proud of it," Kelce shared, acknowledging the gravity of the moment. "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.”
Reflecting further, Kelce admitted that his response was not only inappropriate but also contradictory to his usual approach to life. "In that moment, I fell down to a level that I shouldn’t have. I try to live my life by the golden rule. I try to treat people with common decency and respect, and I’m going to keep doing that moving forward," he explained, adding that he "fell short" of that goal during the interaction.
As Kelce attempted to redirect focus to the game, he concluded with a reminder of his commitment to moving past the incident: "I think we got a game to focus on... So, let's get ready for this Chiefs' game."
The altercation outside Penn State's Beaver Stadium appears to have started when fans began shouting as Jason Kelce walked through the crowd. One fan asked about Travis Kelce’s relationship with Taylor Swift, whom he has been dating since September 2023, and used a homophobic slur. Upon hearing the insult, Jason reportedly turned around, grabbed the man’s phone, and smashed it to the ground. Another clip also shows a man, presumably the fan, chasing Kelce and asking for his phone back, to which Kelce is heard repeating the offensive word in response.
It's still unclear whose phone was smashed or if it belonged to the individual who used the slur. ESPN, which represents Jason Kelce as an analyst, has refrained from issuing a statement on the matter.
Despite the drama, Jason Kelce’s weekend also included a lighter moment. Appearing on ESPN's "College GameDay," Kelce was dared to participate in Pat McAfee's kicking contest, during which he missed both of his field goal attempts. Meanwhile, as Jason attended the game in Pennsylvania, his brother Travis was in Indianapolis supporting Swift at one of her final U.S. “Eras Tour” shows.
The incident has sparked conversations about the pressures public figures face and the limits of personal tolerance. For Jason Kelce, the takeaway from the weekend seems clear: a commitment to respecting others, even under provocation, and focusing on the road ahead.