Jason Kelce Recalls Chargers Long Snapper Mike Windt Smoking Cigarettes at Halftime

The former Cincinnati Bearcats standout shared an amusing anecdote about his fellow Bearcat during the Pro Bowl Games broadcast.

Feb. 3, 2026 at 10:47pm

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During the ESPN broadcast of the 2026 Pro Bowl Games, former Cincinnati Bearcats player and current NFL analyst Jason Kelce shared a story about his former college teammate Mike Windt, who spent nine seasons as a long snapper for the Los Angeles Chargers. Kelce revealed that Windt would smoke cigarettes at halftime of NFL games, though he cautioned viewers not to follow that example.

Why it matters

Kelce's anecdote about Windt's unorthodox halftime routine provides a rare glimpse into the behind-the-scenes lives of NFL players, particularly those in specialized positions like long snapper that often go unnoticed by casual fans.

The details

Kelce, who was an analyst for the Pro Bowl Games broadcast, brought up Windt unprompted while discussing the athleticism required of long snappers. He noted that Windt had torn his ACL during a vertical jump test while at the University of Cincinnati, where both players starred, before going on to have a lengthy NFL career with the Chargers.

  • Kelce shared the story during the 2026 Pro Bowl Games broadcast on ESPN.

The players

Jason Kelce

A former Cincinnati Bearcats standout who is now an NFL analyst for ESPN.

Mike Windt

A long snapper who played nine seasons in the NFL for the Los Angeles Chargers after starring at the University of Cincinnati and Elder High School.

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What they’re saying

“I know a guy, Mike Windt, who played for close to a decade, was a long snapper at Cincinnati and then (played) in the league for a long time. Tore his ACL doing a vertical jump test at Cincinnati, then proceeded to smoke cigarettes at halftime of NFL games for probably - by the way, kids, do not smoke cigarettes. I'm not advocating.”

— Jason Kelce

The takeaway

Kelce's anecdote about Windt's unorthodox halftime routine provides a rare behind-the-scenes look at the lives of NFL players, particularly those in specialized positions like long snapper that often go unnoticed by casual fans.