TicketsUniversity of Cincinnati football great Jason Kelce has been selected for induction into the James P. Kelly Athletics Hall of Fame, the UC Athletics Department announced on Thursday.
Kelce is the final member of 50th Anniversary Class of 2026, which is presented by Performance Automotive and also includes legendary men’s basketball coach Bob Huggins, track and field All-Americans Loretta Blaut and Wayne Mason, baseball career batting average leader Mike Kinnett, women’s soccer record-setting goalkeeper Christy Hoffman, and Kelce’s UC and Philadelphia Eagles’ teammate and football great Connor Barwin. Longtime athletic trainer Bob Mangine will receive the Bob Goin Award for distinguished service.
The Hall of Fame Class of 2026 will be inducted at 7:30 p.m. inside Fifth Third Arena on Friday, Oct. 23, the night before Cincinnati’s 100th Homecoming football game versus Texas Tech.
Season ticket holders, UCATS members and C-Club members will have an exclusive week-long window to purchase $25 tickets to the Hall of Fame induction, beginning Monday, Aug. 17, at 10 a.m. and continuing through Sunday, Aug. 23, at 11:59 p.m.
Eligible members will receive an email Monday morning at 10 a.m. with a link to purchase tickets during the exclusive window.
Tickets will go on sale to the general public on Monday, Aug. 24, at 10 a.m. for $35.
All proceeds from ticket sales will benefit Cincinnati Athletics’ Impact Fund, which provides critical resources to help the Bearcats recruit and retain top talent and compete for championships in the Big 12.
Seating for the induction ceremony will be available on a first-come, first-served basis when doors open at 6 p.m.
Kelce authored an incredible career from 2006 to 2010, transforming from a walk-on linebacker to a three-year starter on the offensive line. He earned All-BIG EAST honors twice. Kelce played for head coaches Mark Dantonio, Brian Kelly and Butch Jones, leading UC to back-to-back conference championships and the 2008 Orange Bowl and 2009 Sugar Bowl. He was the Scout Team Defensive MVP in 2006 before moving to the offensive line and starting three seasons from 2008 to 2010.
Following his Cincinnati career, Kelce found tremendous success in the NFL. He retired in 2024 following a 13-year career with the Philadelphia Eagles, during which he was a six-time All-Pro selection and seven-time Pro Bowler. Kelce won Super Bowl LII in 2018 and appeared in Super Bowl LVII in 2023, facing the Kansas City Chiefs and his brother, Travis.
Kelce owns the Eagles’ record for consecutive regular-season starts at 156 and his six All-Pro selections are tied with NFL Hall of Famers Reggie White and Chuck Bednarik for most in team history. He is widely believed to be one of the greatest centers in NFL history.
He and Travis host the wildly popular “New Heights with Jason and Travis Kelce” podcast, which was named the Podcast of the Year by iHeartPodcast in 2024 and is regularly the most-listened to podcast on the Apple and Spotify charts. Kelce is also a member of ESPN’s Monday Night Countdown pregame show.
Jason and his wife, Kylie, annually host the Team 62 event for the Eagles Autism Foundation, and have raised $3.69 million over six years, including $1.26 million at the fundraiser in 2026.