Kelce family faces fan criticism
The Kelce family’s presence in sports and entertainment media continues to grow in 2026, bringing new opportunities, bigger platforms and plenty of public attention. From football broadcasts to podcasts and high-profile appearances, several family members are staying in the spotlight.
But with greater visibility comes greater scrutiny, and some fans are beginning to question how much Kelce coverage is too much. Here’s a closer look at the family’s expanding media footprint and the reactions surrounding it.
Four NFL Network games are on Kelce’s schedule
ESPN announced that Jason Kelce will call four NFL Network games during the 2026 season. The assignments include international matchups involving the Colts, Commanders, Eagles, Jaguars, Steelers and Saints, plus a December 26 game.
The scheduled contests include games in London and Paris, along with a late-season matchup. NFL’s official schedule confirms the international dates and teams involved in the 2026 NFL Network slate.
Monday Night Countdown keeps Kelce in prime coverage
Kelce continues appearing on Monday Night Countdown alongside Scott Van Pelt, Marcus Spears, Pat McAfee and Jason McCourty. The program returned for Week 1 coverage from Kansas City before the Broncos-Chiefs matchup on September 14.
ESPN describes the show as a two-hour pregame program for Monday night football. Kelce’s continuing presence keeps him visible in a major weekly NFL studio role.
New Heights keeps the brothers in the conversation
Jason and Travis Kelce continue hosting New Heights during the 2026 NFL season. The weekly podcast covers games, league news, sports headlines, personal updates and notable guests, giving the brothers a regular platform outside broadcasts.
The fifth season began September 2, 2026, with episodes scheduled every Wednesday during the NFL season. Apple Podcasts lists Jason and Travis as hosts and Wondery as the provider.
The podcast remains a major media platform
New Heights entered its fifth season in September 2026 with episodes scheduled during the NFL season. Apple Podcasts lists more than 200 episodes, while the show is available through YouTube, Prime Video and other podcast platforms.
The brothers expanded the podcast brand through Kelce Clubhouse, an Amazon storefront featuring New Heights merchandise. USA TODAY reported that the store includes licensed collaborations, team merchandise and a gameday guide for fans.
Travis Kelce remains an active NFL player
Travis Kelce remains a Kansas City Chiefs tight end during the 2026 season. His playing career keeps him connected to weekly NFL storylines, while his podcast partnership with Jason gives him another role in football media.
The Chiefs opened the season against Denver on September 14, keeping Kelce in Monday night coverage. ESPN’s Week 1 plans also included programming from Kansas City around the game.
The family’s media footprint extends beyond football
Kylie Kelce maintains a public media career through her Not Gonna Lie podcast. The program covers motherhood, pop culture, sports and personal experiences, adding another recurring Kelce-related voice to entertainment and sports coverage.
Her podcast debuted in late 2024 and remained active during 2026, according to Philadelphia Magazine. The publication also reported that Kylie’s show became part of her public profile alongside Jason’s broadcasting work.
Interesting fact: The Kelce brothers made NFL history in 2023 when Jason’s Eagles faced Travis’ Chiefs in Super Bowl LVII.
Kylie Kelce’s podcast reached major recognition
Not Gonna Lie debuted in late 2024 and continued operating in 2026 with regular episodes. In May 2026, Kylie Kelce received a Webby Award for Podcast of the Year, according to Philadelphia Magazine’s report.
The award added an industry honor to the family’s podcast presence. Kylie’s program operates separately from New Heights, giving the Kelce family two recurring podcasts with different hosts and subject areas.
Interesting fact: New Heights refers to its listeners as the “92%ers.” The nickname comes from Jason Kelce’s comment that the quarterback sneak works about 92% of the time when a team needs one yard.
Donna Kelce remains visible in commercial media
Donna Kelce continued appearing in commercial and promotional media during 2026. In an interview with USA TODAY, she discussed her sons’ careers and said college name, image and likeness rules would have been difficult.
Her appearances add another family connection to the sports-business conversation. Donna became widely known through her sons’ NFL careers and has remained visible as their profiles expanded beyond football.
Taylor Swift’s marriage to Travis increased attention
Taylor Swift’s marriage to Travis Kelce added another high-profile event to the family’s media coverage in 2026. The Associated Press reported that Jason Kelce served as Travis’s best man at the couple’s wedding.
The wedding connected Kelce family coverage with Swift’s global entertainment audience and drew extensive attention from celebrities, athletes and fans. AP reported that the event was attended by hundreds of celebrities, athletes, friends and family members, making the brothers’ family roles part of a widely covered event.
Jason has acknowledged the family’s increased visibility
Jason Kelce has discussed how his family’s level of attention changed after Travis began dating Taylor Swift. He said the attention developed gradually before increasing sharply, providing context for the family’s changing public profile.
Jason made those comments during a July 2026 appearance on the Ross Tucker Football Podcast. His remarks addressed the family’s visibility rather than describing a specific ESPN programming decision.
Some fans have criticized the amount of Kelce coverage
A recent Yahoo Sports report documented complaints from NFL fans about attention directed toward Jason Kelce and other family members. The report cited Jason’s ESPN appearances, Kylie’s podcast and Donna’s commercial work as examples.
The criticism is part of the current sports-media conversation, rather than evidence that all NFL viewers share the same view. ESPN’s 2026 announcements confirm Jason’s broadcast role expanded across NFL properties.
The internet is also talking about are the Rams already losing their grip on Super Bowl favorite status?
The 2026 season puts the media presence under a brighter spotlight
The 2026 NFL season gives Jason Kelce a larger broadcast role while New Heights continues weekly coverage with Travis. Kylie is also maintaining her podcast as the family remains connected to major sports and entertainment stories.
That visibility is occurring while Travis remains an active Chiefs player and Jason works across ESPN and the NFL Network. Together, those roles keep the family present across media spaces.
Curious about the NFL’s latest scheduling change? Find out why the NFL moved its traditional kickoff from Thursday to Wednesday.
Like this slideshow and comment with your take. Do you think the increased coverage is deserved, or has there been too much Kelce coverage?
This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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