Jason Kelce’s football story became much bigger than his time spent at his alma mater, but his early college football days with the Cincinnati Bearcats are the reason it exists.
The former walk-on linebacker will enter the James P. Kelly Athletics Hall of Fame as part of its 50th anniversary class. The induction ceremony is set for Oct. 23 at Fifth Third Arena, one night before the program’s 100th Homecoming game against Texas Tech. Kelce later became a Philadelphia Eagles legend and one of the NFL’s best centers.
This honor, however, belongs to the less polished part of his career. Cincinnati is celebrating the player who changed positions, earned a scholarship and helped lift the Bearcats to consecutive Big East championships.
Jason Kelce’s college football career started far from the spotlight
Kelce arrived at Cincinnati in 2006 as a walk-on linebacker from Cleveland Heights, Ohio. He redshirted and earned the Bearcats’ Scout Team Defensive Player of the Year award, but a coaching change soon altered the direction of his career.
After Mark Dantonio left for Michigan State, Brian Kelly’s new staff asked Kelce to move to the offensive line. Kelce had never played the position in high school. When the coaches approached him about the change, he pressed them about receiving a scholarship. Cincinnati agreed and rewarded him.
Kelce played center and guard in nine games in 2007, contributing to a Cincinnati offense that scored 472 points. He became the starting left guard in 2008, opening all 13 games as the Bearcats won the Big East and reached the Orange Bowl.
Kelce started 13 games at left guard in 2009 and earned second-team All-Big East honors as Cincinnati completed a 12-0 regular season, repeated as conference champion and reached the Sugar Bowl. He moved to center as a senior in 2010 and received second-team all-conference recognition again.
Kelce finished his Bearcats career with 38 consecutive starts across three seasons. That college resume already stood tall on its own. While his NFL fame and budding sports broadcasting career may draw more attention to this honor, Cincinnati is not boosting a celebrity in retrospect. The school is recognizing a versatile player who became a central figure during one of the best runs in program history.
Cincinnati honor adds another chapter to Kelce’s rise
The Eagles selected Kelce with the 191st pick in the sixth round of the 2011 NFL Draft. He spent all 13 seasons of his career in Philadelphia, starting each of his 193 regular-season games. Kelce earned six first-team All-Pro selections, made seven Pro Bowls and set an Eagles record with 156 consecutive regular-season starts.
His greatest team achievement came when Philadelphia beat the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LII. Five years later, he returned to the Super Bowl, facing the Kansas City Chiefs and his younger brother, Travis, another former Cincinnati player.
Kelce retired in 2024. He co-hosts the “New Heights” podcast with Travis and works on ESPN’s “Monday Night Countdown.” He and his wife, Kylie, also continue to support the Eagles Autism Foundation through their annual Team 62 fundraiser.
In hindsight, his pro accomplishments make Kelce’s path look inevitable now. And in a few more years, Kelce may be getting another similar call from the Pro Football Hall of Fame.