Jason Kelce says 'Redskins' for Commanders on NFL Network broadcast, laughs it off
Analyst Jason Kelce used the Washington Commanders' former name, 'Redskins', during NFL Network's coverage of the Colts-Commanders game in London on Sunday. Play-by-play announcer Dave Pasch corrected him on air, and Kelce reacted with surprise.
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The story, neutrally told
Mixed · 2Jason Kelce, an analyst on NFL Network's broadcast of the Indianapolis Colts-Washington Commanders game on Sunday 4 October 2026, referred to Washington as the 'Redskins' on air. NewsweekN “Kelce accidentally referred to the team by its former name.” Read at Newsweek ↗ Fox NewsR “Jason Kelce accidentally called the Commanders the Redskins during an NFL Network broadcast” Read at Fox News ↗ Centre · 1Kelce was discussing the Commanders' defence when he said: "The Redskins right now doing a great job of not only staying tight but making the play when the ball is in the receiver's hand and keeping it short of the sticks." NewsweekN “The Redskins right now doing a great job of not only staying tight but making the play when the ball is in the receiver's hand and keeping it short of the sticks," Kelce said.” Read at Newsweek ↗ Mixed · 2Play-by-play announcer Dave Pasch corrected him straight away, saying "Commanders. You did it." Kelce asked "What'd I do?" and, told he had said Redskins, replied "I almost made it out." Fox NewsR “"Commanders. You did it."” Read at Fox News ↗ NewsweekN “"I almost made it out!" Kelce said after realizing his mistake.” Read at Newsweek ↗
Mixed · 2Pasch said the booth's three members had made a 'gentlemen's bet' beforehand on who would be first to use the old name; both outlets name Kurt Warner as the third analyst (Fox News) or leave him out (Newsweek). Fox NewsR “"Yeah, the three of us had a little gentleman's bet who would be first," Pasch said.” Read at Fox News ↗ NewsweekN “adding they'd had a "gentlemen's bet about who would be first."” Read at Newsweek ↗ Centre · 1The game was an NFL International Series match in London, which the Colts won 30-13, with Jonathan Taylor rushing for 95 yards and a touchdown, according to Newsweek. NewsweekN “the Commanders, who lost 30-13, as the Colts' Jonathan Taylor helped power his team to a win with 95 rushing yards and a touchdown.” Read at Newsweek ↗ Mixed · 2Kelce played for the Philadelphia Eagles from 2011 to 2023 and regularly faced Washington under its former name. NewsweekN “Kelce played for the Eagles from 2011 to 2023.” Read at Newsweek ↗ Fox NewsR “Kelce played against them during nine of his 13 seasons with that team.” Read at Fox News ↗
Centre · 1Washington retired the name and logo in July 2020, played as the Washington Football Team in 2020 and 2021, and became the Commanders in February 2022; Newsweek says this followed criticism that the name was offensive to Native Americans and pressure from corporate sponsors. NewsweekN “Washington retired its former team name and logo in July 2020, then played as the Washington Football Team during the 2020 and 2021 seasons.”“along with increased pressure from major corporate sponsors.” Read at Newsweek ↗ Centre · 1Newsweek presented the slip as the latest in a run of Kelce broadcasting errors, after he repeatedly said 'we' about the Eagles on ESPN's Monday Night Football and apologised to Bears fans. NewsweekN “Kelce referred to the Philadelphia Eagles as "we" during halftime of their game against the Chicago Bears.” Read at Newsweek ↗ Right · 1Fox News's Armando Salguero wrote that the name change was 'utter stupidity', said Native American views on the term are divided, and argued that Pasch's light-hearted handling 'struck the right tone'. Fox NewsR “And all this shows the utter stupidity of the whole name change thing.”“The NFL Network booth, led by Pasch's lighthearted approach to this flub, struck the right tone.” Read at Fox News ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre1 outlet
- Framing
- Newsweek reports a sports-news 'slip-up', with quotes, game result and background on the name change and Kelce's earlier on-air flub.
- Emphasis
- Game context (30-13 Colts win), the quote and Pasch's correction, the history of the name change.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not discuss wider debate over the name or Kelce's apology beyond his reaction.
- Charged language
- “slip-up”“flub”
- For example
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“Jason Kelce had a noticeable slip-up while calling the Colts-Commanders game in London” — Newsweek
Right1 outlet
- Framing
- Fox News (OutKick) uses the incident as a commentary on 'cancel culture', saying Kelce apologised 'so as to not get canceled' and criticising the name change.
- Emphasis
- Opinion on the name change, Native American views, nostalgia for the Redskins, and praise for the booth's tone.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not mention the game score or that the name was dropped amid sponsor pressure; gives little weight to criticism of the name as offensive beyond describing it as claimed by 'mostly liberal voices'.
- Charged language
- “canceled”“utter stupidity”“unpardonable broadcasting sin”“Gasp!”“Liberals may not like it”
What every side reports
- Kelce said 'Redskins' for the Commanders during NFL Network's Colts-Commanders broadcast on Sunday.
- Dave Pasch corrected him on air and mentioned a pre-game 'bet' on who would be first.
- Kelce responded 'I almost made it out'.
- Washington used the Redskins name before the change to Commanders.
Where accounts differ
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Whether the name change was justified and how serious the slip was
- Centre
- Newsweek treats it as a 'slip-up' and notes the name was dropped amid criticism it was offensive to Native Americans and sponsor pressure.
- Right
- Fox News calls the name change 'utter stupidity', says Native American opinion is split, and mocks Kelce's reaction as acting 'like he committed an unpardonable broadcasting sin'.
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre1 article
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Jason Kelce Makes Surprising Slip-up While Calling Commanders Game in London
Neutral Straightforward report of the slip with game and background context.
Right1 article
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Dismissive Opinionated piece mocking the reaction to the slip and arguing the name change was misguided.
- 4 Oct 18:19 First Fox NewsR Jason Kelce calls the Commanders the 'Redskins' during game, immediately apologizes so as to not get canceled
- 4 Oct 19:47 +1h 28m NewsweekN Jason Kelce Makes Surprising Slip-up While Calling Commanders Game in London
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.