Chris “Mad Dog” Russo has seen enough of Jason Kelce on ESPN.
During Wednesday’s installment of “First Take,” Russo said he was “in one of the moods” before he went ballistic over Kelce’s role as an analyst on ESPN after his NFL retirement in March.
“You’re gonna get mad at me. I’m gonna say it anyway because I feel like it,” Russo said. “I’m in one of those moods.
“I think we’ve all seen plenty of Jason Kelce in the last few weeks.”
Russo was referring to Kelce’s ESPN debut when the Falcons upset the Eagles on “Monday Night Football” in Philadelphia.
ESPN’s pregame show turned into a welcome home party for Kelce, who was tailgating with fans in the parking lot at Lincoln Financial Field — and went viral for his dance moves.
Kelce, who donned a green velvet tracksuit, also stirred buzz online when he chest-bumped a Philadelphia super fan before the game.
Stephen A. Smith chimed in and said, “I happen to like Jason Kelce.”
“First Take” host Molly Qerim, who seemed caught off guard by Russo’s comments, agreed.
“Woah, woah woah!… We all [like Kelce]… He’s a star, OK,” Qerim said.
Russo only became louder as he tried to get his point across.
“They put him in the booth in the Philadelphia game against Atlanta!” he yelled.
“You’re a hater,” ex-Colts center and interim coach Jeff Saturday, who also appeared on “First Take” said.
“He’s a new star to the network,” Smith said. “I’m very proud of him and I’m happy to see him.
“I got no problems with that. He’s not the one on ESPN Bet commercials.”
Kelce, a former All-Pro center, announced his retirement after 13 seasons with the Eagles in March.
Two months later, ESPN signed the Super Bowl champion to a multi-year agreement as an analyst on its premiere NFL telecasts in May.
Kelce was aware his larger-than-life debut on ESPN ruffled some feathers, especially Atlanta fans.
“Listen, I want to apologize to Falcons fans watching because I understand that you just had to watch just a Philadelphia celebration and a parade of a former player coming back home,” he said on his and brother Travis Kelce’s “New Heights” podcast last week.
“… How crazy is it? The first time I’m back in the building I’m commenting on a game? … Before the game, being out in the parking lot, the countdown, being up in the booth with Joe [Buck] and Troy [Aikman], it was really, really awesome for me, so selfishly, I am just beyond happy that that was kind of how I get to remember my first time being in the Linc not as a player. At the same time, I fully understand why a bunch of Atlanta people hate my guts right now so I apologize.”
Kelce will appear “Monday Night Countdown” each week throughout the regular season and ESPN’s Super Wild Card and Divisional Round playoff games, and the NFL’s Conference Championship weekend.
He will appear on each “Monday Night Football” and ESPN playoff game with Scott Van Pelt and Ryan Clark during halftime.
Kelce will also join ESPN’s Super Bowl studio coverage each year, including Super Bowl LXI in Los Angeles in February 2027.
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
