Jason Kelce apologizes on ESPN following phone-destroying incident with fan who directed anti-gay slurs at brother Travis

Jason Kelce smashed a fan's phone after he was confronted with it before Penn State's game against Ohio State on Saturday. (Luke Hales/Getty Images)

Former Philadelphia Eagles center and current ESPN analyst Jason Kelce apologized to the network on Monday night after getting into an incident with a fan over the weekend.

Kelce said he “decided to meet hate with hate” when he was confronted by a fan Saturday before Ohio State's win over Penn State in State College, Pennsylvania. Kelce smashed a fan's phone to the ground Saturday morning after he used a homophobic slur aimed at Kelce's brother Travis.

“I am not happy with everything that happened. I’m not proud of it,” Kelce said on ESPN. “In a heated moment, I decided to meet hate with hate, and I just don't think that's a productive thing to do. I really don't. I don't think it creates a discourse and that it is the right way to do things. In that moment I fell to a level I shouldn't have.

Jason Kelce opens Monday Night Countdown with an apology.

“I choose to meet hate with hate, and I just don’t think that’s a productive thing to do.” pic.twitter.com/9rScqAKpVD

– Awful Announcement (@awfulanncreasing) November 4, 2024

Kelce was on Penn State's campus Saturday morning to appear on ESPN's “College GameDay.” As he walked through the tailgate before the game, which Ohio State won 20-13, a fan chased him and confronted him while he appeared to be filming on his cell phone.

The fan can be heard shouting: “Kelce, how does it feel that your brother is shit for dating Taylor Swift?”

Kelce, who later addressed the fan with the same insult, slammed the fan's phone, confronted him and then walked away.

Warning: The following videos contain NSFW language

“Kelce, how does it feel that your brother doesn’t want to date Taylor Swift?”

Jason Kelce slammed the child's phone on the floor.

It looked like a Penn State student looking Kelce in the face for no reason. Wild scene in State College pic.twitter.com/3PEdZXWhSg

– chives (@jarrett_daveler) November 2, 2024

Kelce opened ESPN's “Monday Night Football” pregame broadcast with his apology before the Kansas City Chiefs' game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday night.

“I think the bottom line is that I try to live my life by the golden rule,” he said. “That's what I've always been taught.” I try to treat people with decency and respect and I will continue to do that, even if I didn't succeed this week. I will do that in the future.”

Kelce played 13 seasons for the Eagles, although his popularity has surged in recent years, due in part to his brother, Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, and his relationship with Swift. The Kelce brothers' podcast has also been on a roll lately, with the two signing a three-year deal worth more than $100 million in August.

It's unclear if any further insight will be gained from Saturday's incident or if Kelce has spoken to the fan in question in the days since. However, Kelce seemed more than ready to put it behind him on Monday night.

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