Did Megan Rapinoe call for Jason Kelce’s firing?

Claim:

Retired U.S. soccer icon Megan Rapinoe demanded the termination of Super Bowl champion and ESPN analyst Jason Kelce after he accidentally uttered the Washington Commanders’ former team moniker on live television.

Rating:

Rumors surfaced online this week alleging that former U.S. women’s national soccer team standout Megan Rapinoe had publicly called for ESPN analyst Jason Kelce to lose his job.

Curious readers reached out to fact-checkers regarding the purported feud, leading to the discovery of a widely circulated Facebook post (archived) published on Oct. 5 by the Empire Sports page. The post claimed:

MEGAN RAPINOE: Calls for Jason Kelce to be FIRED..

Megan Rapinoe criticized Jason Kelce after he used Washington’s former team name during a live broadcast.

“I know Jason Kelce said that racist name on purpose to create division. He should be fired immediately.”

— Megan Rapinoe

While the comment section showed that numerous readers took the narrative at face value, others amplified the falsehood across Facebook (archived) and Threads (archived), though the Empire Sports upload generated the vast majority of user engagement.

To clarify: Although Kelce did indeed slip up and mention Washington’s retired team name on air, Rapinoe never demanded his firing.

A review of the Empire Sports “About” section reveals an explicit disclaimer stating that the account produces fictional, satirical material under the banner of sports parodies and insider updates. No credible news outlets reported any such statements from Rapinoe, and her verified Instagram profile contained no remarks concerning Kelce.

Fabricated stories and politically driven misinformation frequently weaponize Rapinoe’s name to generate online traction and website clicks, capitalizing on historical tensions such as her high-profile public friction with U.S. President Donald Trump.

What Kelce Actually Said

During an Oct. 4 ESPN-managed NFL Network broadcast of the Indianapolis Colts’ 30-13 victory over the Washington Commanders in London, Kelce worked as an in-studio analyst.

Footage from the broadcast shows Kelce analyzing a defensive play when he remarks, “The Redskins right now are 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.”

Play-by-play announcer Dave Pasch immediately pointed out the slip of the tongue, prompting Kelce to react with, “Oh my gosh! I almost made it out.” Pasch then noted that he, Kelce, and fellow analyst Kurt Warner had a friendly wager on who would accidentally use the old moniker first, to which Kelce responded, “Well, sorry Washington.”

Similar satirical fabrication campaigns involving Rapinoe have previously gone viral, including entirely fictitious reports claiming she was leaving the United States, filing for bankruptcy, or facing an Olympic ban.

Sources