Jason Kelce doesn’t think the NFL should fine players for speaking out about bad calls.
Jason Kelce Backs Players Speaking on Bad Calls
“It’s Freedom of Speech, Baby”: Jason Kelce Slams NFL & Backs Players Speaking on Bad Calls (Image via YT/NewHeights)
The ESPN analyst fired off on the latest episode ofNew Heights, taking aim at the league’s policy that penalizes players who publicly criticize officials.
“I don’t think that you should be fined. I think that’s bullsht, personally,” Kelce said. “It’s freedom of speech, baby. What the fck are we doing right here?”
Jason Kelce didn’t hold back when discussing the league’s handling of criticism toward officials. He argued that punishing players for speaking out about bad calls undermines accountability and transparency.
When Bad Calls Force Players Into Silence
The controversy started in the second quarter with the game tied 7-7. Philadelphia faced fourth-and-1 at New York’s 11-yard line and ran its signature tush push.
Jalen Hurts got the first down, but as he was still being pushed forward, Thibodeaux ripped the ball out of his hands.
It looked like a fumble. Replays showed it was a fumble. Officials called forward progress stopped.
Referee Brad Rogers ruled the whistle had blown before Thibodeaux stripped the ball, meaning there was nothing to review. Giants coach Brian Daboll challenged anyway out of frustration, losing a timeout and a challenge.
Two plays later, Hurts hit Saquon Barkley for a touchdown to make it 14-7. The Eagles never looked back.
Thibodeaux was heated in his postgame interview, explaining that officials told him they’d called forward progress before the ball came out.
“Sounds like some bullsh*t to me,” he said.
That’s when teammate Brian Burns stepped in with a warning: “You’ll get fined.”
Thibodeaux immediately changed his response. “Sorry, I mean, that was a great call by the refs. You can’t blame missed calls on anything.”
Kayvon Thibodeaux on the tush push fumble problem and explanation: “sounds like some bullshit to me”
Then Brian Burns cautions: “you’ll get fined”
Thibodeaux: “sorry. That was a great call by the ref” #talkinball pic.twitter.com/5B13OLLXrQ
— Pat Leonard (@PLeonardNYDN) October 26, 2025
“I don’t think you should be able to be fined for that,” Jason Kelce added. “I think that’s nonsense. And I am all for having the officials’ back usually. But listen, it was a bad call. What do you want me to say?”
Kelce has never been the type to complain about officials constantly.
But even someone who typically gives referees the benefit of the doubt couldn’t defend what happened Sunday. When a blown call is that obvious and that big, pretending otherwise doesn’t help anyone.
The Kelce brothers also discussed the broader issue with the tush push itself. Jason suggested that if officials can’t properly call the play, it might end up being the reason the league eventually bans it.
The Tush Push is about to dominate every A-Block in sports media again… pic.twitter.com/Ypvvwwqtf4
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) October 26, 2025
Twenty-two of 32 NFL teams voted to ban the play this past offseason, falling two votes short of the required majority.
The play has become hard to officiate. Officials struggle with identifying false starts before the snap. They struggle with determining when forward progress stops. They struggle with knowing when to blow the whistle. Sunday’s controversy was just the latest example.
But that’s not the players’ problem. And it’s certainly not a reason to fine them for bringing it to attention.