Late Night with Jason Kelce? ESPN is reportedly in discussions to make it happen

Could Jason Kelce be headed for late-night TV? According to John Ourand of Puck, that’s not as far-fetched as it might sound. Kelce is reportedly in discussions to host his own show, set to air on ESPN.

According to John Ourand of Puck, Jason Kelce “is in talks to host his own show” that would air on ESPN. 

“Kelce’s people and the network are still trying to nail down the specifics, but my sources say the gig wouldn’t be a highlight or recap show. Rather, the concept that seems to have gained the most traction is a late-night show, featuring Kelce with other athletes and celebrities. The show would be produced by NFL Films and licensed to ESPN, which will air it on five consecutive Friday nights—likely 1 a.m. ET on Saturday, to be precise—starting in January, with the hope that the show will create clips that go viral on social over the weekend.” 

From what’s being floated around, this won’t be your typical sports highlight or recap show. Instead, the concept getting the most traction is a late-night format where Kelce would chat it up with athletes, celebrities, and other personalities.

The show is expected to be produced by NFL Films and licensed to ESPN, airing in a limited five-episode run starting in January. It’d land in the 1 a.m. ET slot early Saturday mornings, which suggests that the initial plan is more of an extended pilot—think test drive with the hope of viral moments carrying the buzz through the weekend.

It’s a low-risk, high-reward move. If it’s a hit, ESPN can give it a more prominent slot or continue the experiment longer term. If it flops, well, 1 a.m. isn’t exactly prime viewing time, so the stakes are pretty low.

The bigger picture here is how networks like ESPN are evolving. While live programming is still a key focus, they’re increasingly banking on content that finds a second life online.

Whether it’s YouTube, TikTok, X, or Facebook, the goal is to spark conversations (and shares) the next day. Kelce’s presence could be perfect for that.

Jason Kelce has already shown off his on-camera chops as an analyst on Monday Night Countdown, but a looser, more free-flowing format could really let his personality shine.

And let’s be honest—the timing couldn’t be better for the Kelce family to maximize their media appeal. Jason and his brother Travis, along with mom Donna, have been everywhere lately, from commercials to documentaries.

Striking while the iron is hot is key in media, and that’s exactly what Jason Kelce and his entire family are doing. Even if the buzz cools down in a few years, the family will have built up a significant media presence—and likely a lot more wealth along the way.

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