Jason Kelce is used to making headlines, but this time it was not for a football play or a viral celebration. The retired Philadelphia Eagles legend turned ESPN analyst found himself in the middle of a social media firestorm after comments about baseball rubbed some Canadian fans the wrong way.
During a recent episode of New Heights, the popular podcast he co-hosts with his brother Travis Kelce, Jason sounded off about the Los Angeles Dodgers’ World Series win over the Toronto Blue Jays. The conversation started as light banter and ended with a viral soundbite.
“So you’re telling me I’m supposed to get excited about a Canadian baseball team, and a team that just spends more money than everybody else?” Kelce said. “That’s why baseball sucks! You just buy championships. It’s the dumbest thing in the world.“
That clip quickly made its way across social media, and Canadian fans were not pleased. Many accused Kelce of disrespecting Canada’s only Major League Baseball team, while others argued he was taking an unnecessary shot at the country itself.
So you’re telling me I’m supposed to get excited about a Canadian baseball team, and a team that just spends more money than everybody else?
“Guys, I love Canada,” Jason Kelce responds to the backlash
By Friday night, Kelce decided to address the situation directly. Posting on X, he clarified that his words had been taken out of context.
“Guys, I love Canada,” he wrote. “I have been bamboozled by our social team that failed to show the whole story. How could I not love poutine, maple syrup, and beavers? I was actually rooting for the Blue Jays in a World Series that I didn’t care about. Seriously, Canada is the best.”
Kelce went on to explain that his frustration was not aimed at Canada or the Blue Jays but rather at what he sees as a flaw in baseball’s competitive balance. His issue, he said, was with teams that “buy” titles by spending more than everyone else. To make his affection for the north clear, he even reminded fans that he is “a known Canada advocate and Ice Hockey lover.”
The clarification eased most of the tension. Some fans appreciated the humor, while others saw the episode as proof that podcast moments can easily turn into internet controversy. With the misunderstanding behind him, Kelce is now preparing for his return to ESPN’s Monday Night Football coverage of the Eagles-Packers game at Lambeau Field.
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