Jason Kelce’s went from NFL legend to media mogul and it has been nothing short of spectacular. The former Philadelphia Eagles centre retired in March 2024 with a $60 million net worth, but here’s the twist: he’s now earning more annually than he ever did during his 13-year playing career. Between his ESPN broadcasting deal, the wildly successful New Heights podcast, and strategic business investments, Kelce has proven that you can still earn money during retirement.
Biography
Born on 5 November 1987, in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, Jason Daniel Kelce grew up in a sports-loving household. His parents, Ed (a sales representative in the steel industry) and Donna (a banker), raised Jason alongside his younger brother Travis, who’d eventually become an NFL tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs.
At Cleveland Heights High School, Kelce wasn’t just a football player. He excelled as both a running back and linebacker whilst playing baritone saxophone in the school’s jazz and symphonic bands.
Kelce attended the University of Cincinnati, where he played for the Bearcats from 2006 to 2010. After redshirting his first year, he switched from running back to the offensive line. The Bearcats enjoyed tremendous success during his time there, including an undefeated regular season in 2009 when they became Big East champions.
NFL Career
The Philadelphia Eagles selected Kelce in the sixth round (191st overall) of the 2011 NFL Draft. Many doubted whether a sixth-round pick could make a significant impact, but Kelce spent his entire 13-season career proving doubters wrong.
His rookie contract was modest at $2.3 million over four years, but his exceptional performance quickly earned him a six-year extension worth $37.5 million in 2014. By the peak of his career (2021-2024), Kelce was earning $14 million per season, making him one of the highest-paid centres in NFL history. His total career earnings from football reached an impressive $81.7 million.
Awards and Achievements
Kelce earned seven Pro Bowl selections and an astounding six First-Team All-Pro honours, tying him with Reggie White and Chuck Bednarik for the most in Eagles franchise history. He set the franchise record with 156 consecutive regular-season starts and retired as the Eagles’ all-time leader in games played by an offensive lineman with 193 games.
The pinnacle came in February 2018 when the Eagles defeated the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LII, winning the franchise’s first Super Bowl title.
On 4 March 2024, Kelce announced his retirement in a 45-minute speech at the Eagles’ NovaCare Complex that moved viewers nationwide. Wearing a sleeveless Eagles T-shirt, he teared up within the first ten words as family members, including brother Travis, wife Kylie, and parents Ed and Donna, watched from the audience.
“Stepping on the field was the most alive and free I had ever felt,” Kelce said through tears. “I have been the underdog my entire career and I mean this when I say it, I wish I still was. Few things gave me more joy than proving someone wrong.”
Media Career
Just ten weeks after hanging up his boots, ESPN announced a multi-year deal worth approximately $24 million over three years ($8 million annually). He joined Monday Night Countdown as an analyst, debuting on 9 September 2024.
ESPN expanded Kelce’s role further with “They Call It Late Night with Jason Kelce,” a late-night sports talk show that premiered on 4 January 2025. Produced by NFL Films alongside Kelce’s Wooderboy Productions and Skydance Sports, the show broadcasts from Philadelphia’s Union Transfer venue and features celebrity guests including Charles Barkley and Lil Dicky. Wife Kylie even appears in a regular segment called “Kylie’s Corner.”
New Heights Podcast
The Kelce brothers’ New Heights podcast, launched in September 2022, is a media juggernaut. In August 2024, Amazon’s Wondery acquired exclusive distribution and ad-sales rights in a deal worth over $100 million across three years, making it one of the largest podcast deals ever.
The numbers justify the massive investment. New Heights ranked as the 8th most popular podcast on Apple Podcasts in 2024, with average episode views of 1.92 million (up 98% year-over-year). The podcast won Podcast of the Year at the 2024 iHeartPodcast Awards along with Ambies, Webbys, and Shorty Awards.
Jason’s estimated share from the podcast alone approaches $15-20 million annually, meaning his post-retirement income of approximately $25-30 million per year now exceeds his highest NFL salary.
Beyond broadcasting, Kelce has diversified his investment portfolio. In June 2024, he and Travis became the largest investors in Garage Beer, a craft beer brand that achieved a $200 million valuation in 2025. Earlier investments include RealTruck, Inc. through Patricof Co’s athlete investment platform since November 2021.
His endorsement portfolio iniclude major brands: Nike, Bose, FanDuel, Old Spice, Campbell’s Soup, Buffalo Wild Wings, and General Mills (which launched “Kelce Mix” cereal with Travis in September 2024). Regional partnerships include Philadelphia favourite Wawa, keeping him connected to his adopted hometown.
The Kelce family compound in Haverford, Pennsylvania, now spans approximately 10 acres across three properties valued at over $8 million, plus a $2.2 million beach house in Sea Isle City, New Jersey.
Personal Life
Jason married Kylie McDevitt in spring 2018 after meeting on an online dating app. Together, they’re proud parents to four daughters who keep them wonderfully busy. Their eldest, Wyatt Elizabeth, was born in October 2019, followed by Elliotte Ray in 2021 and Bennett Llewellyn in February 2023.
The family welcomed their fourth daughter, Finnley “Finn” Anne Kelce, on 30 March 2025. The pregnancy was announced in November 2024 with a hilariously accurate Instagram photo showing the three older sisters’ varying reactions to getting another sister.
Kylie has emerged as a media personality in her own right. Her podcast “Not Gonna Lie with Kylie Kelce” debuted on 5 December 2024 and immediately hit number one on both Spotify and Apple Podcasts. It became the second top new show of 2025, featuring guests including Brie Larson, Jennifer Hudson, and Kelly Clarkson. She continues her role as Senior Event Coordinator for the Eagles Autism Foundation.
The Taylor Swift Connection
The relationship between Travis Kelce and pop superstar Taylor Swift has amplified Jason’s public profile significantly. At Super Bowl LVIII in February 2024, Jason shared a celebrity suite with Swift, who had flown 5,700 miles from Tokyo to watch Travis’s Chiefs defeat the 49ers. “It was my first time really understanding some of the things that she has to deal with,” Jason remarked on New Heights. “It was overwhelming.”
The family attended multiple Eras Tour stops, including London’s Wembley Stadium in June 2024, where they met Prince William and his children. In August 2025, Travis and Taylor announced their engagement.
Charity
The (Be)Philly Foundation, which Kelce founded in October 2022, supports education and economic outcomes for Philadelphia public school students, serving over 3,000 students. His Underdog Apparel clothing line donates 100% of profits to the foundation.
His annual Team 62 at Ocean Drive celebrity bartending event for the Eagles Autism Foundation achieved a milestone in June 2025, raising over $1 million, their most successful event in five years. The “A Philly Special Christmas” albums with teammates Jordan Mailata and Lane Johnson have raised millions more for local charities.
Net Worth
Jason Kelce’s net worth stands at an impressive $60 million. His annual income has actually increased since retirement, reaching approximately $25-30 million per year compared to his peak NFL salary of $14.25 million.
This wealth comes from multiple streams: his $81.7 million in career NFL earnings, the $100 million New Heights podcast deal (his share being $15-20 million annually), his $24 million ESPN contract over three years, strategic business investments including Garage Beer and RealTruck, Inc., extensive endorsement deals with major brands, real estate holdings valued at over $10 million, and residuals from the record-breaking documentary “Kelce.”
The documentary, Kelce, released on Amazon Prime Video in September 2023, became the platform’s most-watched documentary film ever in the United States and earned two Sports Emmy nominations.
Kelce is eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame with the Class of 2029, and experts predict first-ballot induction. Only two centres in NFL history have earned more First-Team All-Pro selections than Kelce’s six, making him a no-brainer choice.
The 2029 Hall of Fame vote will merely formalise what Eagles fans already know: Kelce belongs among the all-time greats, both for what he accomplished on the field and how he’s continued to represent Philadelphia after leaving it.
