Former NFL star Jason Kelce has rushed to clarify his position on Canada after a viral social media clip made it appear he was throwing shade at the Toronto Blue Jays and the entire nation.
The Viral Rant That Started It All
During the latest episode of the New Heights podcast, which Kelce hosts with his brother Travis, the conversation turned to the recent World Series where the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Toronto Blue Jays in a dramatic Game 7. While Travis Kelce praised the series as consisting of "awesome seven games of baseball," Jason's initial reaction raised eyebrows among Canadian fans.
"You're telling me I'm supposed to get excited about a Canadian baseball team?" the 38-year-old former Philadelphia Eagles center asked during the podcast recorded earlier this week. He further criticized what he perceived as the negative impact of large payrolls in Major League Baseball, questioning the excitement around "the team that spent the most money and everybody knew was going to win the World Series" ultimately claiming victory.
Kelce's Canadian Mea Culpa
Just one day after the controversial clip began circulating on social media to promote the podcast, Jason Kelce took to X (formerly Twitter) on Friday night to set the record straight. "Guys, I love Canada," Kelce wrote in his November 7 post. "I have been bamboozled by our social team that failed to show the whole story."
The Super Bowl champion went on to profess his affection for several Canadian icons, writing: "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." He emphasized that his criticism was directed at baseball's financial dynamics rather than Canada itself, describing himself as a "known Canada advocate and Ice Hockey lover."
The Context Behind the Controversy
The World Series marked a significant moment for Canadian baseball, representing Toronto's first return to the Fall Classic since winning back-to-back titles in 1992 and 1993. The series proved to be a massive ratings success, setting a global MLB viewership record with Game 7 drawing a combined 51 million viewers across the United States, Canada, and Japan.
In Canada alone, the finale attracted 11.6 million viewers on Sportsnet and TVA Sports, making it the most-watched English-language broadcast in the country since the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. The series clearly captured national attention, which may explain why Kelce's initial comments drew quick criticism, including from Sportsnet's Hazel Mae, who called them "disappointing" in her social media response.
Despite the brief controversy, Kelce's clarification appears to have smoothed relations with Canadian fans, with the NFL legend making clear that his beef was with baseball economics rather than the Great White North.
