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ESPN’s “Monday Night Countdown” is about to get more boisterous.
Jason Kelce is joining the weekly “Monday Night Football” pregame show, The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand reported.
Every NFL rightsholder besides Fox Sports at least kicked the tires on adding Kelce as a contributor.
The program is hosted by Scott Van Pelt, and other analysts include Ryan Clark and Marcus Spears.
The outlet previously reported that Robert Griffin III is not expected to return to the pregame show this upcoming season.
Kelce, 36, retired this offseason after a 13-year career playing center for the Eagles.
Kelce was a seven-time Pro Bowler, six-time All-Pro and a vital part of the team’s Super Bowl championship in 2018.
He was also arguably the key component of Philadelphia’s rugby-style “tush push” play where Jalen Hurts has converted virtually every short-yardage situation the team has faced over the past two years into a first down or touchdown on a quarterback sneak.
Kelce co-hosts the “New Heights” podcast with his brother, star Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce.
On the podcast last month, the former Eagles offensive lineman explained how he knew it was time to hang up his pads.
“Obviously I’ve debated retiring the last few seasons,” Jason said.
“I think it got to the point where I knew that was what I wanted to do and it was nerve-racking getting to that day. But a lot of the things that I said and shared are things I’ve wanted to share for a long time and you wait until the moment where it feels right to do it.”
He also sensed that he was starting to physically break down.
“The reality was, it was more firm than it’s ever been this year that I don’t think physically I can compete at the level that I want to anymore and really compete the way I want to. My elbow and my knees. It’s just gotten to the point where the deterioration and the recovery and that deterioration really hasn’t manifested on game day yet,” Kelce said.
“But I know it’s going to start doing that and I’d really rather not — I’m hard on myself and if I got out there and I’m not the player I want to be, it’ll crush me. I feel very confident in the decision I made. I know it’s time. I’ve had a really good run but that’s the biggest reason why.”
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