Longtime ESPN producer Jeff Dufine told the Philadelphia Inquirer that the network has tried to get the word 'we' out of broadcaster Jason Kelce after the former Philadelphia Eagles center repeatedly referred to his old team in the first person during recent broadcasts.
The issue gained attention during the Week 3 Monday Night Football loss to the Chicago Bears on Sept. 28. Kelce, who played for the Eagles for 13 seasons, used phrases such as 'we played really well offensively' and 'we shot ourselves in the foot' during halftime. Dufine noted that such slips are common among former athletes and coaches when discussing their former teams, but the network is working to correct the habit.
Co-broadcaster Pat McAfee also flagged the behavior on air, remarking, 'A lot of 'we' talk out of Jason for Philly.' Kelce later apologized for the slip-up. The 38-year-old addressed the criticism while announcing the upcoming Eagles-Jaguars game in London, assuring Jacksonville fans that he would do his utmost to remain neutral and give them credit, stating, 'Jacksonville’s playing as good as any team right now in the AFC.'
Viewer reaction to Kelce’s perceived bias was swift on social media. During the London game, Kelce again said 'we' when referring to an Eagles punt. One user on X wrote, 'Here's an idea. Keep him away from Eagles games.' Another asked, 'have they tried getting the Jason Kelce out of the booth?' A third user posted, 'It felt like I was watching an Eagles preseason game.'
Despite the public criticism, Dufine defended Kelce’s broadcasting abilities before the London matchup. The producer stated that Kelce understands the game well and that ESPN will support him throughout his assignments.
Kelce’s next scheduled assignment is to announce the Pittsburgh Steelers and New Orleans Saints game in France on Oct. 25.