Step aside, Jimmy Kimmel … it appears that Jason Kelce may be gearing up to establish himself in the late-night arena — reports suggest he is in discussions with ESPN regarding the hosting of his very own show.
John Ourand of Puck reported on Thursday that ESPN chief Jimmy Pitaro aims to expand the network’s audience — and one strategy to achieve this goal may involve a late-night program hosted by Kelce.
It remains uncertain whether the format would follow a conventional style — the type where a host (like Kimmel) invites various celebrities and athletes to engage in light-hearted discussions about life and forthcoming projects in a Q-and-A format — though Ourand mentioned that, at the very least, it “wouldn’t be a highlights or recap program.”
Kelce, naturally, has become accustomed to being in front of the microphone and engaging with large crowds … he not only presents his widely successful “New Heights” podcast with his younger brother, Travis Kelce, but he has also been analyzing NFL games during ESPN’s “Monday Night Football” coverage for the past few months.
If the initiative receives the go-ahead — Ourand noted that Jason’s show would probably be scheduled to air on Friday evenings … starting in January.
Jason stepped away from the NFL in March … yet he continues to rise in visibility since leaving the field — and it may soon become difficult to miss him during twilight and the early hours.