Jason Kelce Is Excited to Commentate Travis’ Game — but Won’t Cover…see more

Jason Kelce Is Excited to Commentate Travis’ Game — but Won’t Cover Him ‘Any Differently’ Than Others (Exclusive)
In March 2024, Jason Kelce retired from the NFL after 13 season with the Philadelphia Eagles

Jason Kelce is excited for the NFL season ahead.

It may be the first where the former Eagles center isn’t on the field, but it’s still a monumental one. Jason is set to kick off his role as part of ESPN’s Monday Night Countdown team, and one game he’s looking forward to is Oct. 7’s Monday Night Football matchup between the New Orleans Saints and the Kansas City Chiefs.

“Well, that one’s actually gonna be really fun, because Travis’s birthday is October 5th. So, I’ll be able to go in and celebrate his birthday with him — which normally, in season, we don’t get to see each other for that. Then I’ll be able to cover the game,” Jason tells PEOPLE as he looks at the season ahead, when he’ll also serve as a fanbassador for Marriott Bonvoy and Courtyard.

When it comes to critiquing his younger brother, Jason is confident he’ll be able to be fair and have fun.

“I don’t know that I’m going to cover Travis any differently than I do anyone else. I mean, I feel like I’ve been praising him for as long as I can remember,” he notes.

“I’ve got to be honest, I do think it’s important to do that whenever you’re commentating. So I’m just going to try and do that and just organically say what I think and not think too much into it.”

On September 4, Marriott Bonvoy and Courtyard — the Official Hotel Loyalty and Official Hotel Partners of the NFL, respectively — are honoring the retired NFL star in his first season as a fan. As their first-ever ‘Fanbassador,’ Jason will be bringing fun football-related experiences to NFL fans all season long.

“I’m excited for all the things that I’ve never really been able to participate with fans because I’ve been a player through all these years. Now, I get to be a fan for the first time,” he tells PEOPLE.