Jason Kelce warns Pat McAfee on ESPN
Jason Kelce, a retired Philadelphia Eagles center and current ESPN Monday Night Countdown analyst, publicly challenged co-analyst Pat McAfee live on September 21, 2026, during ESPN’s broadcast at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, ahead of kickoff.
The broadcast covered the Los Angeles Rams hosting the New York Giants in Week 2 of the 2026 NFL season. Kelce’s warning followed an on-air remark McAfee made about the Rams’ mascot, Rampage, and the Giants entered the game with a 1-0 record.
What happened on the ESPN set
Rampage, the Rams’ mascot, walked up to Pat McAfee live on the ESPN set before kickoff, and McAfee admitted on air that he did not recognize the character right away. McAfee then called Rampage the best mascot in the NFL, setting up a playful response from Jason Kelce.
Kelce responded twice on air, saying, “I’m telling Blue,” while referring to the Indianapolis Colts’ mascot. The joke connected to McAfee’s past as the Colts’ punter in Indianapolis and his longtime connection to the team.
Rams mascot Rampage steals the moment
Rampage is the official mascot of the Los Angeles Rams, an anthropomorphic ram who wears a Rams jersey with the number 1 printed on the front for every home game.
The character debuted in July 2010 at the St. Louis Zoo, back when the franchise still played in St. Louis, Missouri. Rampage stands 6 feet 1 inch tall and weighs about 200 pounds, and he now works the sidelines at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood.
Why McAfee’s comment surprised Kelce
Pat McAfee praised Rampage during ESPN’s pregame coverage, prompting Jason Kelce to invoke Blue, the mascot of McAfee’s former team, the Indianapolis Colts.
McAfee played 8 seasons for the Colts, from 2009 through 2016. Kelce repeated his line about telling Blue, turning McAfee’s compliment to another team’s mascot into a joke about his Indianapolis ties.
Who is Blue, the Colts’ mascot
Blue is the official mascot of the Indianapolis Colts, an anthropomorphic blue horse who wears a white Colts jersey with a clear horseshoe logo on the front.
Blue debuted on September 17, 2006, at the RCA Dome during a home game against the Houston Texans, a game the Colts won 43-24. His first public appearance came earlier that year, when he went skydiving in Greensburg, Indiana, to introduce himself to fans.
Blue holds a rare NFL mascot honor
Blue has become one of the most decorated mascots in the NFL, with 5 NFL Mascot of the Year awards to his name as of the 2026 season, according to the Colts.
He also holds a spot in the Mascot Hall of Fame, recognizing his sideline antics, trick shots, and skits at Colts games. Blue entered his 21st season with the Colts in 2026 and continues to make hundreds of public and community appearances across Indiana.
McAfee’s playing career with the Colts
Pat McAfee played 8 NFL seasons for Indianapolis, from 2009 through 2016. The Colts selected the punter in the 7th round of the 2009 NFL Draft.
McAfee made 575 regular-season punts, earned first-team All-Pro honors in 2014 and was selected to 2 Pro Bowls. His long Colts career gave Jason Kelce’s joke about telling Blue its connection to McAfee.
McAfee’s rise from punter to ESPN star
Pat McAfee retired from the NFL in February 2017 after 8 seasons with the Indianapolis Colts. He later built The Pat McAfee Show into a major sports media platform before bringing the program to ESPN in 2023.
McAfee also became a regular part of ESPN’s College GameDay coverage. In 2026, reports said ESPN and McAfee were in talks over a new long-term agreement, with one report putting the potential value at more than $60 million per year, though no such deal had been finalized at that point.
Jason Kelce’s path from Eagles to ESPN
Jason Kelce retired from the NFL in March 2024 after 13 total seasons as center for the Philadelphia Eagles, spending his entire career with one franchise.
He helped the Eagles win Super Bowl LII and earned six First-Team All-Pro selections during his career. Kelce joined ESPN’s Monday Night Countdown as an analyst after retiring and entered his third season on the show in 2026, alongside newcomer Pat McAfee.
Fun fact: Pat McAfee released his 14-track debut country-rap fusion album, “The Diary of a Polarizing Figure“, on August 14, 2026
Inside ESPN’s Monday Night Countdown crew
ESPN’s “Monday Night Countdown” pregame show for the 2026 NFL season features host Scott Van Pelt alongside analysts Jason Kelce, Marcus Spears, Jason McCourty, and new addition Pat McAfee. The group leads the two-hour pregame show before Monday Night Football each week.
The show airs from 6 to 8 p.m. ET on ESPN and is also available on NFL Network for the first time in 2026. ESPN announced McAfee’s addition to the panel on August 19, 2026, with Jason McCourty also joining the cast.
Fans react to another McAfee spotlight
Pat McAfee’s expanded ESPN role has drawn criticism from some fans and media figures who have questioned how frequently the network features him across its NFL and college football coverage.
Longtime ESPN host Linda Cohn questioned the amount of McAfee content on her own show in August 2026, specifically pointing to his new role on “Monday Night Countdown” and a potential additional Monday Night Football alternate broadcast. Social media users have also voiced criticism as McAfee’s role across ESPN programming has grown.
The Rams-Giants matchup by the numbers
The Giants arrived at SoFi Stadium on Sept. 21 with a 1-0 record after beating Dallas 28-20 in John Harbaugh’s debut as their head coach. The Rams were 0-1 following a 27-7 loss to San Francisco in Melbourne, the NFL’s first regular-season game in Australia.
Los Angeles was favored by roughly 7 points before kickoff. The Rams then beat the Giants 28-6, leaving both teams at 1-1.
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What comes next for Kelce and McAfee
The Indianapolis Colts return home to Lucas Oil Stadium the following Sunday after the Rampage exchange, hosting the Houston Texans as Blue works the sideline for Indianapolis fans that day.
Pat McAfee is expected to keep juggling his daily show, College GameDay, and Monday Night Countdown duties throughout the 2026 season. Whether Jason Kelce follows through on telling Blue about McAfee’s on-air comment remains an ongoing storyline for ESPN’s NFL coverage.
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Was McAfee wrong to sleep on Rampage, or does Blue still run the mascot game? Tell us who you think wins that sideline showdown in the comments.
This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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