Landing Leonardo DiCaprio for your podcast should feel like a win. For Jason Kelce and Travis Kelce, it turned into a teaching moment about staying in your lane.
Jason Kelce Claps Back After Critics Say Leonardo DiCaprio Deserves Better Than New Heights
Jason Kelce Claps Back After Critics Say Leonardo DiCaprio Deserves Better Than New Heights (Screenshot via x/@newheightshow)
The brothers scored the Oscar winner’s first-ever podcast appearance alongside Benicio del Toro on New Heights. Fans should have celebrated. Instead, some decided the whole thing was beneath DiCaprio’s talent. Jason heard the noise and came back swinging with trademark honesty.
Jason Kelce Claps Back After Critics Say Leonardo DiCaprio Deserves Better Than New Heights
DiCaprio and del Toro showed up to promote their new film One Battle After Another, and the Kelce brotherscouldn’t hide their excitement. Jason admitted the episode was “an awesome episode to record” and called sitting down with the Hollywood legends “f***ing crazy.”
It’s time to add “podcaster” right next to “Oscar Winner” on these guys’ resumes
NEW EPISODE TOMORROW FT. LEONARDO DICAPRIO AND BENICIO DEL TORO pic.twitter.com/cUg1wp1Dqw
— New Heights (@newheightshow) September 24, 2025
Critics questioned why DiCaprio would appear on a football podcast. Jason responded, “I don’t disagree with you one bit. That’s a 100% beneath Leonardo DiCaprio.” He admitted the show was far beyond their qualifications but embraced the moment with humor.
The response perfectly captures what makes New Heights work. The show never pretended to be Charlie Rose. Traviseven warned his guests upfront that New Heights was “the most unprofessional podcast there has ever been.”
That’s the whole point. The Kelces built their brand on unfiltered conversations, not polished journalism. DiCaprio chose to be there. Del Toro chose to be there. They knew exactly what they signed up for.
NFL Fans Split on Whether the Kelce Brothers Earned Their Leonardo DiCaprio Moment
Social media had thoughts. Lots of them. One fanwrote, “This podcast is lucky to host him.”
Anotherpenned, “I can almost guarantee that the Kelsie brothers don’t have the intelligence or the patience to interact with a Paul Thomas Anderson film.”
A thirdadded, “WTFFFF! This is INSANEEEE!! Congrats to the Kelce brothers this is definitely reaching new heights!! Such a huge get!”
But the most telling take came from a fourth fan whoobserved, “Leo doesn’t do a lot of stuff, so that’s a good get. Albeit to promote a movie, but nonetheless, a huge guest. Said WWF which is funny.”
DiCaprio seemed comfortable with the format, calling Jason’s over-the-top introduction “an intro” and joking that it felt like “the WWF.” Del Toro dubbed it a “Hall of Famer.”
The criticism misses the bigger picture. New Heights has pulled Taylor Swift, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and now DiCaprio because celebrities want to have actual conversations without the corporate polish.
Jason’s willingness to admit they’re unqualified is exactly why qualified guests keep showing up. The show works because it doesn’t take itself seriously.