Jason Kelce took to social media to clarify why he was seen wearing a Denver Broncos jersey on television—a surprising choice, especially given his roots in Cleveland, whose beloved Browns were facing off against the Broncos on Monday Night Football.
Kelce, known for his loyalty to his hometown Cleveland Browns, left fans baffled when he appeared on ESPN sporting a Broncos jersey during the pregame festivities in Denver. Almost immediately, social media was flooded with questions, prompting Kelce to address the confusion and explain his decision to honor the rival team in such a visible way.
“Every tailgate I attend for Monday Night Football, I make it a point to wear a jersey honoring a former great from the home team,” Kelce explained in his post. He then proceeded to provide some examples of the players he has honored in the past.
“For the Jets, I wore Abdul Salaam’s jersey to honor him after his passing as one of the great members of the Sack Exchange. When we played in Pittsburgh, I put on the jersey of my friend and colleague Ryan Clark. During the Chiefs game, I wanted to honor Abner Haynes and his contributions to the game in multiple ways,” Kelce shared, giving insight into the thought process behind his jersey choices.
He then added, “Tonight, I wore Tom Nalen’s jersey—a legendary center and a guy I looked up to. I watched him when I was learning the position as an undersized center. He was one of the players who inspired me to play the game the way I do.”
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Kelce went on to emphasize that his choice of jersey was about honoring the history of the league and the greats who have come before him. “I like honoring great players of this league while venturing into the tailgates of different teams. But, just to be clear, I told everyone at the tailgate that I was rooting for the Browns. When we made our game predictions, I said, ‘I can’t bring myself to pick against my hometown team’ and picked the Browns solely because of that.”
The gesture was well received by many fans, with people on social media praising Kelce for his thoughtful tradition of recognizing past NFL legends. Fellow TV analyst Andrew Whitworth commented, “Love that you do that. That’s freaking awesome!” Another fan chimed in, “Makes complete sense, nice job Jason.” The response highlighted Kelce’s commitment to honoring the history of the game while staying true to his own roots.
However, not everyone was on board with Kelce’s choice. One fan voiced their disapproval, saying, “You should only wear one jersey. It’s green and has 62 on it. At least we have Kylie…” referring to the Philadelphia Eagles jersey he usually wears, and his wife Kylie’s support of his career.
Despite the mixed reactions, Kelce’s choice of jersey was in line with his tradition of celebrating the greats of the game, regardless of team loyalties. His explanation underscored his appreciation for the history of football and the players who have helped shape the sport.
Kelce was part of the panel for the Monday Night Football broadcast, where he analyzed the game that ultimately ended in a 41-32 victory for the Broncos over the Browns. The game featured an impressive performance by Broncos rookie quarterback Bo Nix, who threw for 294 yards and a touchdown.
On the opposing side, Jameis Winston had an eventful night, throwing for 497 yards and four touchdowns, but also recording three interceptions. Despite Winston’s efforts, the Browns came up short, and the Broncos secured the win in front of their home crowd.
Kelce’s gesture, though unconventional, demonstrated his respect for the league’s history, and the discussion it sparked on social media served as a reminder of the powerful emotions tied to team allegiances.
As Kelce continues his media career, it’s clear that his love for the game transcends any one team, even if his heart will always belong to Cleveland.