Penn State’s James Franklin Responds to Viral Jason Kelce Incident

Penn State football coach James Franklin was asked about the viral incident involving Jason Kelce on campus — while addressing one involving Franklin himself. 

Kelce, 36, was in the middle of a controversial fracas with a young man outside Penn State’s stadium on Saturday, November 2, shortly after appearing on ESPN’s College GameDay and right before Penn State’s showdown with Ohio State.

The former NFL star threw the individual’s phone to the ground after the student used a homophobic slur to describe Kelce’s brother, Travis Kelce, and his relationship with his girlfriend, Taylor Swift.

In a video released by TMZ, Kelce was also seen using the same slur three times in response. 

“Jason Kelce was coming to State College [Pennsylvania], I wanted him to have a wonderful experience,” Franklin, 52, told reporters on Monday, November 4. “I didn’t get a chance to meet him or see him. I saw something that I wasn’t very, very proud of. I wish that didn’t happen.”

Franklin continued, “But there’s also, in 2024, I love that that person, there was a consequence to his actions.”

Speaking generally, Franklin — whose Penn State team lost for the 8th-straight time to Ohio State on Saturday — acknowledged that passion on game days can often be “great,” but urged there’s a line that needs to be drawn. 

“That also doesn’t excuse bad behavior at times,” he said. “It comes with the territory, but that doesn’t make it right.”

While walking off the field on Saturday, Franklin also found himself embroiled in a dispute with a young fan. 

Immediately before entering the stadium tunnel, and with members of his family in direct earshot, Franklin was heckled by a fan in the stands. 

“What’s your name?” Franklin asked him. “If you’re going to be man enough to talk, what’s your name?”

In response, the young fan simply walked away and up the stadium steps toward the exit. 

“I’m really good with it,” Franklin told reporters on Monday. “Someone screaming at me and my daughter within a couple feet as we were walking off the field, I’m good with that. That comes with the territory.”

Franklin continued, “I asked the young man what his name was. To me, it’s like posting something. If you’re going to post something, post it with your picture and your name and own what you post. And if you’re going to say something, own it. I just asked the gentleman what his name was. [He] started stuttering, backed up and didn’t say his name. Critiques and opinions come, that’s part of the territory, I get it. I just asked the young man what his name was.”

Penn State returns to action Saturday, November 9 against Washington.