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The Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the New Orleans Saints 16-10 this Sunday, October 25, at Stade de France in Saint-Denis, just outside Paris. However, the game also put Jason Kelce under scrutiny for his performance as a commentator for NFL Network.
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What happened?
The former Philadelphia Eagles center shared the broadcast with Dave Pasch and Kurt Warner, but two moments during his commentary ended up fueling criticism.
Jason Kelce gets a player’s name wrong during the game
One of the moments that drew the most attention came when Kelce confused Steelers running back Jaylen Warren with Tyler Warren.
Later, the focus shifted to his recommendations for the Saints. When New Orleans’ offense stalled near the goal line before halftime, Kelce insisted that the team should turn to quarterback sneaks, a strategy associated with the Tush Push, which the Eagles popularized during his time with the team as one of the most effective franchises in those situations.
Reactions quickly followed. Some viewers questioned how a commentator could get a player’s name wrong, calling it a basic detail of the job. Others criticized Kelce for repeatedly pushing a formula associated with his former team instead of suggesting alternatives for a New Orleans offense struggling to move the ball.
However, the criticism did not begin in Paris. In late September, another television appearance by Kelce had already sparked comments about his close ties to the Philadelphia Eagles.
Pat McAfee had already called out a Jason Kelce slip-up
On September 28, while analyzing the Eagles’ game against the Chicago Bears on Monday Night Football, Kelce was discussing Philadelphia’s offensive performance when he began referring to the team in the first-person plural.
“We played really well offensively,” he said, using “we” as though he were still part of the Eagles. Pat McAfee did not let the detail slide and joked about the way Kelce continued to refer to the team. Realizing what he had said, the former player laughed at himself and corrected his wording on camera.
The moment was brief and lighthearted, but it offered an example of the challenges that can arise when someone transitions from competing for the same franchise for years to analyzing games from the outside.