ESPN Taps Jason Kelce for NHL Coverage

The former NFL player and entrepreneur expands his media presence beyond football.

Jan. 29, 2026 at 2:55pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Jason Kelce, the former Philadelphia Eagles player who has been an NFL analyst for ESPN since 2024, is taking on a new role covering the NHL this weekend. With no remaining NFL games for ESPN to broadcast after the Super Bowl, Kelce is pivoting from his usual football assignment to provide analysis for the hockey league. This new NHL assignment comes as Kelce continues to build out a growing slate of business ventures beyond broadcasting, including co-owning a beer brand and launching a Philadelphia-inspired clothing line.

Why it matters

Kelce's move to cover the NHL represents his continued diversification beyond just football, as he leverages his media presence and growing entrepreneurial portfolio to establish himself as a multi-sport personality. This aligns with a broader trend of retired athletes seeking to extend their brands and influence through various business and media ventures in the post-playing career phase.

The details

Kelce joined ESPN's NFL coverage in 2024 on a reported three-year, $24 million contract. During the regular season and ESPN's two playoff games, he appears as an analyst on Monday Night Countdown. He also previewed the conference championships last weekend on Postseason NFL Countdown. With no remaining NFL games for ESPN to broadcast after the Super Bowl, the network has tapped Kelce to provide NHL analysis, allowing him to expand his media presence beyond just football.

  • Kelce joined ESPN's NFL coverage in 2024.
  • Kelce is taking on NHL coverage this weekend.

The players

Jason Kelce

A former NFL player who has been an analyst for ESPN since 2024 and is now expanding into NHL coverage, in addition to his growing entrepreneurial ventures.

ESPN

The sports media network that has employed Kelce as an NFL analyst since 2024 and is now tapping him to cover the NHL.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What’s next

Kelce's NHL coverage this weekend will be closely watched to see how he performs in a new sport and whether ESPN expands his role beyond just the one-off assignment.

The takeaway

Kelce's transition from the NFL to the NHL demonstrates his ambition to establish himself as a multi-sport media personality, leveraging his growing business ventures and entrepreneurial mindset to chart a diverse post-playing career path.