Jason Kelce made his debut on NFL Countdown in his distinct style after returning from the Paris Olympics.
The former center for the Philadelphia Eagles wrapped up his NFL career in March, ending a successful 13-season run that included a Super Bowl championship. Just a month into retirement, Kelce signed a lucrative three-year contract with ESPN worth $1.8 million per year to join the NFL program.
On Thursday, the cherished NFL figure made his eagerly anticipated debut alongside Scott Van Pelt, Ryan Clark, and Marcus Spears, sporting a beret to capture the Olympic spirit after his travels.
‘I’m still on Paris time, so I had to wear this beret,’ Kelce noted in response to a question regarding his attire from one of his fellow panelists.
Earlier in the week, Kelce cheered for Team USA in various events while in the French capital.
Travis Kelce made his NFL Countdown debut on Thursday after arriving from the Olympics
With his wife Kylie by his side, Kelce celebrated as Simone Biles and the USA women’s gymnastics team secured gold in the team competition. They also showed support for the women’s rugby sevens team as they clinched a podium finish.
After an eventful day cheering on their compatriots, Kylie shared a comedic video of Jason on her Instagram story. The clip captures her husband looking exhausted in a chair, holding a stack of cups in one hand, a phone in the other, and balancing a rugby ball and a mini volleyball under his arm.
Kelce was also seen wearing a USA hat, a rugby jersey adorned with athletes’ signatures, and a button-down shirt decorated with American colors and images of Maher.
‘Yes, that’s @ilonamaher on his shirt,’ Kylie quipped. ‘When you finally get to relax after all the excitement…’
Kelce wore a shirt with Ilona Maher’s face as the print at the Olympics on Tuesday
Kelce joined ESPN on a three-year deal after a 13-season career with the Philadelphia Eagles
Moreover, his new colleagues poked fun at Kelce regarding his choice of underwear after he admitted to disliking the discomfort of undergarments.
‘I find them unnecessary and they interfere with the freedom my boys appreciate. If that’s going to change… I don’t see that happening,’ Kelce stated during an episode of New Heights.
However, when Clark teased about Kelce possibly changing his habits due to his new role, Kelce took it in stride, responding: ‘That’s new. It’s a grey suit – if I don’t follow the rules, it could get risky.’
