Former NFL player and podcast host Jason Kelce has stirred controversy by questioning Simone Biles’ potential for Olympic glory. The 36-year-old retired Eagles center candidly admitted he was skeptical about the gymnastics star’s ability to secure a medal at 27, especially in a field of younger competitors.
His revelation, shared on the debut episode of his Amazon Wondery show with his brother Travis Kelce, has sparked a lively debate among fans and athletes alike.
Jason, who had initially doubted Biles’ chances of success due to her age, admitted he was wrong and had to “eat his doubts” after attending the 2024 Paris Olympics with his wife Kylie. Reflecting on the event, he noted his initial reservations about Biles’ performance but was proven wrong as she excelled, as reported by Atlanta Black Star.
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His younger brother and co-host, Travis, quickly countered Jason’s earlier skepticism with disbelief.
“There’s no way you really thought this,” the 2024 Kansas City Sportsman of the Year said.
Jason did not shrink on what he thought, explaining, “I did think that, because gymnasts don’t … when you look at the age of gymnasts, they’re usually not in their mid-20s to late 20s. They’re usually young. They usually don’t age and sustain well.”
However, Taylor Swift’s Super Bowl-winning boyfriend defended Biles, stating, “I don’t know why, I just automatically assumed she’s the anomaly.”
Despite his initial doubts, Jason quickly acknowledged and accepted Biles’ extraordinary talent, admitting his embarrassment at being so wrong.
“She is the anomaly because she jumped higher than everybody and it wasn’t even close.”
“Like, you watch all these people do the floor routine, then it’s Simone’s at the end and within the first three seconds you’re like, ‘Oh, that’s different,’” he recalled. “She just jumped five feet higher than everybody else that has done this.”
Biles, renowned for her astonishing athleticism and 12-foot jumps during floor routines, further cemented her legendary status with multiple medals at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Despite this, Jason’s earlier comments about her age sparked backlash on social media, with fans defending Biles and criticizing his skepticism.
One fan tweeted, “Age is only a number. She proved she can compete with the best.”
Another X user questioned, “Why is he speaking on black successful people?”
“2 Morons with a podcast. The dumbing down of America,” one person wrote. Another on Instagram said, “He has no idea what he is talking about.”
Earlier this year, Travis stirred controversy with a sarcastic remark about Biles’ husband, Jonathan Owens, claiming ignorance of Owens’ skills after he admitted not knowing who Biles was when they started dating.
While Travis intended to defend Biles, fans were displeased. Despite these missteps, Travis praised Biles for her resilience and record-breaking achievements on their podcast.
“It’s such a feel-good story knowing the past and everything that she’s had to go through and just to feel confident and getting back up there mentally,” Travis said. “It’s the best, man. So happy for her. And America is so proud of her, man.”
Jason agreed, highlighting the significance of Team USA’s female gymnasts winning gold in the team competition, calling it the “highlight for the Olympics.”
Biles’ performance in Paris was historic, earning gold medals in the team finals, individual all-around finals, and vault finals, along with a silver for her floor routine.
This triumph made her the most decorated American gymnast in history, with 11 Olympic medals and 30 World Championship medals.
