Future Hall of Fame center Jason Kelce is becoming a quarterback of late-night sports entertainment television with They Call It Late Night with Jason Kelce on ESPN. Airing on Friday nights/early Saturday mornings, the new personality-driven, one-hour program will take its inspiration from traditional late-night television, emphasizing a comedic approach throughout all five scheduled episodes which run in conjunction with the finale of the NFL regular season and playoffs.
ESPN will televise the Jason Kelce-fronted show, beginning the night and morning of January 3 and January 4, with each episode also available on ESPN+, ESPN YouTube, and the Jason Kelce channel on YouTube presented by ESPN. Replays will air on ESPN2. NFL Films will produce the show in conjunction with Kelce’s Wooderboy Productions and Skydance Sports.
They Call It Late Night with Jason Kelce will be an immersive experience from Union Transfer in Philadelphia, showcasing the Super Bowl® champion’s oversized personality and infectious humor mixed with celebrity guests from the football world and beyond, in front of a live audience of NFL fans. The show’s format will position Kelce and his guests to dissect NFL topics and storylines, mainly focused on that weekend’s games, in both conventional and good-humoredly unconventional approaches including active participation from the fans in attendance.
The atmosphere inside Union Transfer will bring the Kelce experience to life, amplified by live music from SNACKTIME, Philadelphia’s own beloved band with soul, funk, hip-hop, and rock influences. Each show will be taped on Friday evening, mere hours prior to airing.
The five-episode run will premiere hours prior to the NFL’s regular season finale (Week 18) and have consecutive weekly airdates leading into Super Wild Card, Divisional and Conference Championship weekends before the finale ahead of the Pro Bowl Games and nine days from Super Bowl LIX. Kelce officially announced the show on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on Thursday, November 21.
A Name Rooted in History
They Call It Late Night with Jason Kelce derives its name from They Call it Pro Football, NFL Films’ first full-length film (1967), representing Kelce’s subtle tribute to the sport and the company which will now produce his own show more than 55 years later. The original NFL Films production was given the prestigious honor of being selected for preservation in the National Film Registry in 2012, having been highly recognized and credited with how football and sports were showcased on television following its creation.
Multiplatform Show Debuts on ESPN, Available on ESPN+ and ESPN YouTube
ESPN will air the program at 1AM ET, with the fifth episode beginning at 1:30AM The show will be available on ESPN+, ESPN YouTube, and the Jason Kelce channel on YouTube presented by ESPN following its initial ESPN airing and then will re-air on ESPN2 on Saturday mornings, ahead of the NFL slate. Clips of the show will be actively pushed across social media platforms in real time and the hours following its airing, including on ESPN and Wooderboy handles.
ESPN Premiere Information
They Call It Late Night with Jason Kelce will be taped on Friday evenings, a few hours before each airing
Episode Date Time (ET) Network
1 Saturday, January 4 1AM ESPN
2 Saturday, January 11 1AM ESPN
3 Saturday, January 18 1AM ESPN
4 Saturday, January 25 1AM ESPN
5 Saturday, February 1 1:30AM ESPN
Attending They Call It Late Night with Jason Kelce
Tickets for each show will be free and available through 1iota beginning in December. More details on the process will be released by 1iota in the coming weeks, including on its Instagram page.
Jason Kelce and ESPN
ESPN signed Super Bowl® Champion Jason Kelce to a multi-year agreement in May 2024, adding the vibrant personality as an analyst on the company’s marquee programming around premier NFL telecasts. The 13-year NFL veteran is on Monday Night Countdown (6-8PM ET), leading into Monday Night Football throughout the regular season and ESPN’s Super Wild Card and Divisional Round playoff games. Kelce also joins Scott Van Pelt and Ryan Clark during halftime of all ESPN’s NFL games. They Call It Late Night with Jason Kelce will add to his ESPN portfolio.
About Union Transfer
Union Transfer, located @ 1026 Spring Garden Street in Philadelphia’s Callowhill neighborhood, is a premier music venue renowned for its rich history and diverse programming. Opened in 2011 by R5 Productions and The Bowery Presents, the venue occupies a building constructed in 1889, which originally served as the Spring Garden Farmer’s Market and later housed the Union Transfer Baggage Express Co. With a capacity of 1,200, Union Transfer offers an intimate yet dynamic setting for a wide array of performances, ranging from indie rock and electronic acts to comedy shows. The venue is celebrated for its commitment to showcasing both emerging and established artists, contributing significantly to Philadelphia’s vibrant cultural scene.