Jason Kelce's ESPN Late Night Show Canceled After One Season
In a recent development reported by Sam Neumann of Awful Announcing, ESPN has confirmed that They Call It Late Night with Jason Kelce will not be returning for a second season in 2026. The retired Philadelphia Eagles center has decided to explore other professional avenues during the offseason rather than committing to another run of the show.
ESPN Supports Kelce's Decision Amid Other Projects
ESPN has expressed support for Jason Kelce's choice and will continue to focus on other planned projects in its content lineup. The network's president of content, Burke Magnus, had previously told The New York Times that the show's future would be "a little bit more art than science," indicating the experimental nature of the program.
Origins and Announcement of the Show
Jason Kelce first announced his late-night venture on Jimmy Kimmel Live! back in November 2024. The father-of-four shared his enthusiasm for the format, stating, "I love late-night shows. I've always loved them. I remember at sleepovers watching Conan O'Brien with my friends." He emphasized that the show would capture the camaraderie athletes miss after leaving sports, featuring legends of the game, former teammates, coaches, and celebrities, with NFL Films involvement and live bands.
Production Details and Critical Reception
The show's title was inspired by NFL Films' 1967 documentary They Call It Pro Football. It aired late Friday nights and early Saturday mornings on ESPN, produced by NFL Films in collaboration with Kelce's Wooderboy Production and Skydance Sports. To enhance the comedy elements, Kelce brought in writers from Late Night with Conan O'Brien, Andy Blitz and Jon Glaser.
The premiere episode on January 3, 2025, attracted 290,000 viewers. Despite its short run, the show earned a nomination for the Writers Guild Award in the Comedy/Variety Special Talk category, with the 78th Annual Writers Guild Awards scheduled for March 8 in New York and Los Angeles.
Kelce's Reflections and Future Endeavors
In February 2025, Jason Kelce acknowledged the challenges of the show on the Fitz & Whit podcast, noting that while the live energy felt great, the recorded version left room for improvement. He said, "After the show -- it was a hard show -- and doing it in the moment in the venue, it felt really good. The energy was there... And then you watch it on tape, and you're like, 'Man, I could have done all this other stuff.'"
Looking ahead, the Super Bowl LII champion will continue his role as an analyst on ESPN's Monday Night Countdown during the NFL season. Additionally, he is set to make his NHL broadcasting debut as a special correspondent for the NHL Stadium Series game between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Boston Bruins on February 1, where he will conduct interviews from ice level.
