Jason Kelce will join ESPN’s “Monday Night Countdown” after retiring from the Philadelphia Eagles earlier this year, according to a person with knowledge of the deal.

The person confirmed the deal to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity on Monday because it was not expected to be announced until the ESPN/Disney upfront presentation to advertisers on May 14. The Athletic was the first to report on Kelce’s choice.

Kelce is expected to replace Robert Griffin III, who would continue with the network as a college football analyst. Scott Van Pelt became the host of the “Monday Night Football” pregame show last season with Marcus Spears and Ryan Clark as the other analysts.

Kelce played 13 years for the Eagles and was the most sought-after former player by the networks for the upcoming season. He participated in last year’s NFL Broadcasting and Media Workshop, which used to be known as the “Broadcast Bootcamp.”

FILE - Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce celebrates after a touchdown catch by his brother, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87), during an NFL divisional round playoff football game, Sunday, Jan. 21, 2024 in Orchard Park, NY.(Matt Durisko | AP Photo/Matt Durisko)
FILE – Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce celebrates after a touchdown catch by his brother, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87), during an NFL divisional round playoff football game, Sunday, Jan. 21, 2024 in Orchard Park, NY.(Matt Durisko | AP Photo/Matt Durisko)

This is all new territory for me. I have even more respect for it now,” Kelce said at the time. “It’s very hard to do something live, reactive of stimulus that just happened and having something clever and meaningful to say.”

Kelce made an appearance on Prime Video’s “Thursday Night Football” during the Eagles bye week last season when he was an analyst during the second quarter of the game between the Carolina Panthers and Chicago Bears.

Kelce is expected to continue doing his “New Heights” podcast with his brother, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce.

Jason Kelce, second from right, and Travis Kelce, right, pose for a photo with fans courtside at the Celtics-Cavaliers NBA basketball game, Tuesday, March 5, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Jason Kelce, second from right, and Travis Kelce, right, pose for a photo with fans courtside at the Celtics-Cavaliers NBA basketball game, Tuesday, March 5, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

With Kelce off the market, former New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick becomes the most sought-after TV free agent. Belichick got solid reviews as an analyst on Pat McAfee’s livestream during the first round of the NFL draft last week.

Monday ended up being a busy day when it came to NFL pregame show moves. CBS announced earlier in the day that Matt Ryan is joining “The NFL Today” after splitting time last season in the studio and being a game analyst. Ryan officially retired last week after a 15-year career with the Atlanta Falcons and Indianapolis Colts from 2008-22.

The network also announced Phil Simms and Boomer Esiason will leave after long runs on the show. Simms came to CBS in 1998 after the network won the rights to the AFC. He was the lead game analyst until he moved to the studio in 2017.