Jason Kelce has never been shy about his feelings toward the Dallas Cowboys, and his latest jab proves that retirement hasn’t dulled his passion for the Philadelphia Eagles or his disdain for their NFC East rivals. A lifelong Eagle, Kelce spent his entire playing career in Philadelphia before retiring after the 2023 season, and he’s carried that rivalry into his new role as an analyst on ESPN’s Monday Night Countdown.
During the pregame coverage of Week 14’s matchup between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Cowboys at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, Kelce joined host Scott Van Pelt and the rest of the broadcast team.
As the show cut to a live shot of the stadium, Van Pelt was discussing Dallas when Kelce, never one to hold back, took the opportunity to deliver a zinger.
“Also the b-tthole and armpit of America,” Kelce quipped, sparking laughter from the crew and likely some heated reactions from Cowboys fans.
While the comment was clearly made in jest, Kelce later addressed the backlash it received. “It was just a joke,” he clarified, adding, “we’re all friends here.” But for anyone familiar with Kelce, his sharp words for the Cowboys were entirely on brand.
Kelce, who was drafted by the Eagles in 2011, built his reputation not only as one of the NFL’s best centers but also as a fiery competitor who embodied the spirit of Philadelphia.
His loyalty to the Eagles runs so deep that even his wife, Kylie, has refused to wear Kansas City Chiefs gear in support of her brother-in-law, Travis Kelce, insisting that her allegiance lies solely with the Birds. For the Kelce family, rivalry with the Cowboys—and everyone else in the NFC East—is personal.
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Kelce’s animosity toward Dallas isn’t a new development. In 2018, during his playing days, he spoke candidly about his disdain for the organization, explaining that it went beyond the on-field competition.
“I just don’t really like the franchise, the organization, or what it stands for—what it’s always stood for,” Kelce said at the time. He pointed to the Cowboys’ role during the 2011 NFL lockout, when the team supported the use of replacement players and was vocal about ending the work stoppage. “I’ve just never really appreciated what the organization—and what its fans—really stood for,” he added.
Kelce also took aim at the Cowboys’ fanbase, characterizing them as “fair-weather” supporters who gravitated to the team’s past success rather than forming a genuine connection with the franchise. “A lot of fair-weather people from across the country just fell in love because they’re winners instead of having any type of emotional connection to the team whatsoever,” he remarked.
So, is it really surprising that Kelce would take a shot at Dallas, even from his new perch at ESPN? For Eagles fans, his comments likely reinforced their pride in one of their own.
For Cowboys fans, however, it might serve as yet another reason to remind Kelce of the franchise’s nickname: “America’s Team.” Whether or not that title is deserved, it’s clear Kelce isn’t buying into it—on or off the field.
