32 Former Professional Athletes Who Got Into Broadcasting

As a sports enthusiast, I find it truly inspiring to witness the transformative journeys of athletes who transcend their playing days and become esteemed analysts. Their unique insights, born from years of hard-earned experiences on the field or court, add an unparalleled depth to our understanding of the games we love.

Many former professional athletes have transitioned into sports broadcasting upon retiring from their respective sports. After all, who could understand the nuances and intricacies of the games better than those who made entire careers out of playing them? Here are 32 such ex-athletes who have swapped their equipment for microphones instead.

Shaquille O’Neal

Shaquille O’Neal claimed victory in four NBA titles (three with the Los Angeles Lakers and one with the Miami Heat) throughout his 19-year professional basketball career. Moreover, he was a member of Team USA that clinched a gold medal at the 1996 Olympics. Following his retirement in 2011, Shaq took on an analyst role for Inside the NBA, continuing to work there more than a decade later. However, it remains uncertain what Shaq’s plans are if Inside the NBA is discontinued in 2025.

Daniel Cormier

As an ardent fan, I can’t help but marvel at Daniel Cormier’s incredible feat. He made history by becoming the second fighter in the UFC to rule two weight classes concurrently (Light Heavyweight and Heavyweight). But here’s what truly sets him apart – he was the first to successfully defend titles across multiple weight divisions. His commentary debut at a 2016 UFC Fight Night was just a prelude to his lasting impact in the UFC’s broadcast booth, where he became a mainstay among the team of commentators following his retirement in 2020.

Tara Lipinski

Tara Lipinski amassed numerous national and international championship titles along with a gold medal in the 1998 Olympics, which gave her extensive expertise in the sport. This background made her an ideal choice for one of the leading commentators. She began working with NBC in 2014, and although she is recognized for providing straightforward evaluations of skaters’ performances, we don’t view this as unkind; instead, it demonstrates her proficiency at her role.

Tom Brady

The all-time best football quarterback signed a profitable contract to work as an NFL analyst at Fox well before retiring from playing. In his debut as a color commentator during the 2024 season, Tom Brady, who has won the Super Bowl seven times, faced some initial struggles. However, even basketball legend Shaquille O’Neal thinks he’ll improve over time.

Rebecca Lobo

Rebecca Lobo was part of the Olympic team in 1996, where she clinched the gold medal. Following this achievement, she embarked on a career in the WNBA from 1997 to 2003. Currently, she continues to be deeply engaged in basketball, working as a reporter and analyst for ESPN, covering women’s college and professional basketball games.

Tim McCarver

After spending his career as a Major League Baseball catcher from 1959 to 1980, which encompassed two World Series victories (in 1964 and 1967) with the St. Louis Cardinals, Tim McCarver transitioned into broadcasting, culminating at Fox Sports. He garnered three Emmy Awards for Outstanding Sports Event Analyst and set a record by commentating on 23 World Series and 20 All-Star Games.

Dana Torres

In five different Olympic Games, Dana Torres proudly swam for the U.S., earning 12 medals and establishing three world records throughout her impressive career. At the age of 41, she became the oldest swimmer on Team USA during her last Olympics in 2008. Upon retiring from competitive swimming, she took up a new role as an announcer for various networks such as NBC, ESPN, TNT, and Fox News. Additionally, she hosted a golf show.

Nastia Liukin

Former American gymnast Nastia Liukin now works as an analyst for NBC Sports Group, focusing on her area of expertise. She has also provided commentary during various Olympic games. Throughout her career, she won five Olympic medals, including the 2008 all-around title; claimed the U.S. national all-around championship four times; and amassed nine World Championship medals.

Mary Carillo

After wrapping up my professional tennis career due to injuries in the early 80s, I found myself with a knack for storytelling and a love for sports that refused to wane. So, I transitioned from being on the court to behind it, diving headfirst into broadcasting for networks like USA Network, PBS, CBS Sports, HBO, NBC Sports, The Tennis Channel, and more. I’ve had the privilege of covering major events such as the Olympics in Atlanta and Sydney, Australia. My passion didn’t stop there; I expanded my horizons to cover various sports, including skiing during the 1992 Winter Olympics. Since then, I’ve tackled a wide range of topics from human interest pieces to extreme sports like bobsled, luge, figure skating, and even the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.

Cheryl Miller

Following a prosperous university basketball stint at USC and captaining the U.S. team to Olympic gold in 1984, Cheryl Miller was courted by numerous professional leagues, including the men’s American Basketball League of the United States. Post-retirement due to injuries, she persisted as a coach in the WNBA and a basketball commentator, with her most significant roles being an NBA sideline reporter for TNT Sports and analyst for NBA TV.

Tony Romo

After a 13-season tenure as a quarterback with the Dallas Cowboys, Tony Romo transitioned into commentary, providing NFL game analysis for CBS Sports. His extensive football experience shines through during his broadcasts, where he’s renowned for accurately predicting an offense’s plays and even guessing the content of sideline discussions between referees or coaches.

Tim Daggett

The Olympics may officially start with the Opening Ceremonies, but for gymnastics fans, it’s not until you’ve heard Tim Daggett utter the words: “Gymnastics 101: Fly high and stick the landing.” Daggett was part of the first U.S. men’s gymnastics team to win gold in 1985, where he scored a perfect 10 on the horizontal bar and also earned a bronze medal on the pommel horse. Since retiring, he has provided analysis for NBC for every Summer Olympics since Barcelona in 1992.

Terry Bradshaw

Terry Bradshaw played quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers for 14 seasons, during which time they won four Super Bowls over a six-year span. Yet, it’s his energetic demeanor as an analyst and co-host on Fox NFL Sunday, a position he’s held since 1994, that many people are familiar with.

Charles Barkley

Charles Barkley, affectionately known as “The Round Mound of Rebound,” spent 16 years in the NBA. During this time, he was a key player on two Olympic teams that won gold medals. Later, he became an essential contributor to TNT’s Inside the NBA, where he expresses his candid views and frequently engages in friendly banter with Shaquille O’Neal.

Lisa Leslie

Among the most accomplished players in the history of the WNBA, Lisa Leslie is recognized for being the first to execute a dunk during a game. She boasts two Olympic gold medals and two WNBA championships with the Los Angeles Sparks. Post-retirement, Leslie has taken on the role of sports commentator for networks such as NBC and ABC, and in 2018 she joined Fox Sports Florida as an analyst for Orlando Magic broadcasts.

Dominick Cruz

Rather than transitioning to broadcasting after retiring from sports, Dominick Cruz was simultaneously competing in the UFC’s Bantamweight division and offering color commentary for UFC fights. Despite having already won the Bantamweight title twice during his career, he demonstrated a strong understanding of victory, amassing a professional mixed martial arts record of 24 wins against only 4 losses.

Summer Sanders

After amassing an impressive college swimming career with 8 NCAA titles and 3 World Championship medals in 1991, Summer Sanders went on to win 4 Olympic medals (2 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze) at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. Shortly following this achievement, her broadcasting career took off as she began providing commentary for CBS and later NBC. Over time, she has contributed to covering the Winter Olympics, co-hosted NBA Inside Stuff for eight years, covered tennis events, and served as a commentator for the Pac-12 Network.

Johnny Weir

As a gamer known for my flair on the ice rink, I’m Johnny Weir – partnering with Tara Lipinski to form skating commentary’s ultimate duo. For over a decade, we’ve been dissecting jumps and spins together, but our shared passion doesn’t stop there. We’ve also served as fashion analysts and correspondents for big events like the Oscars, dog shows, the Kentucky Derby, and even the Super Bowl! This comes after my own career, where I represented the U.S. in two Winter Olympics, claimed bronze at the 2008 World Championships, and reigned as the U.S. National champion for three consecutive years.

John McEnroe

Known for his fiery on-court demeanor, John McEnroe amassed an impressive tennis career with 77 singles titles, 77 doubles titles, and one mixed-doubles title on the ATP Tour. Among these achievements, he secured seven major singles titles and nine Grand Slam men’s doubles titles. After retiring from professional play, McEnroe has lent his expertise to various networks such as ESPN, CBS, NBC, USA, and the BBC by providing insightful commentary.

Laurie Hernandez

During her competitive days as a gymnast, Laurie Hernandez earned a gold medal in the team event at the 2016 Summer Games and a silver on the balance beam. She also claimed the junior all-around title at the 2015 U.S. Championships. At the 2024 Paris Olympics, viewers of Team USA were fortunate enough to listen to Hernandez’s commentary during NBC’s live daytime broadcast.

Troy Aikman

Troy Aikman, a legendary quarterback, spent twelve seasons with the Dallas Cowboys, during which he earned three Super Bowl titles. Following his retirement from football, he commentated on NFL games for Fox Network for two decades, ending in 2021. Since 2022, he has been teaming up with Joe Buck to call Monday Night Football matches.

Rowdy Gaines

Known as “The Voice of Swimming,” Rowdy Gaines enjoyed a triumphant swimming career that saw him win three Olympic gold medals in the year 1984, while setting ten world records during his six-year competitive span. Today, he continues to cover swimming events at each Olympics since 1992 and also provides analysis for NBC.

Bob Uecker

For five years, Bob Uecker played catcher in the Major League Baseball (MLB), earning a World Series win with the 1964 St. Louis Cardinals. However, his fame extends beyond his time on the field. At the age of 90 in 2024, Uecker kicked off his 54th season as a broadcaster for the Milwaukee Brewers. He’s also made appearances at WrestleMania as a commentator and brought laughter as a play-by-play announcer in the “Major League” films.

Teddy Atlas

Following a spinal injury that ended his career in boxing, Teddy Atlas switched gears to coaching and later moved into broadcasting. Over an extended period, he became a regular commentator for ESPN, while also offering expert analysis during the Olympics from 2000 to 2016 for NBC.

Chiney Ogwumike

Throughout her career, Chiney Ogwumike has been involved in both playing basketball professionally and providing analysis on the sport. Drafted first overall by the Connecticut Sun in the WNBA in 2014, she also signed a multi-year contract with ESPN in 2018 to serve as a full-time basketball analyst. In 2020, Ogwumike made history by becoming the first Black woman and the first WNBA player to host a national radio show for a sports entertainment network.

Bill Walton

Legendary basketball player Bill Walton, who sadly passed away in May 2024 at the age of 71, had a distinguished career on the court, securing two NBA championships – one with the Portland Trail Blazers in 1977 and another with the Boston Celtics in 1986. Despite facing a stutter, he went on to become a respected commentator for several broadcast networks including CBS, NBC, ABC/ESPN, the L.A. Clippers, the Sacramento Kings, and the Pac-12 Network, spanning many years.

John Madden

John Madden made a significant impact on the world of American football, immortalized by the creation of a video game that serves as a lasting tribute. Although his professional playing career was cut short when he was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in 1958 due to a knee injury before taking the field, he went on to coach for an extended period and eventually found success as a broadcaster. Madden shared his extensive knowledge across four major television networks, earning him recognition among NFL fans as one of the most recognizable voices. Prior to his passing in 2021, he won a total of 16 Sports Emmy Awards.

Candace Parker

In the 2008 WNBA draft, Candace Parker was chosen as the top pick, joining the Los Angeles Sparks. Over the next 13 seasons with them, she clinched one championship. Later, she moved on to play for the Chicago Sky and Las Vegas Aces, earning titles at both teams. In April 2024, Parker announced her retirement from playing basketball, but her career in broadcasting was already thriving. As early as 2018, she started providing analysis for NBA on TNT and worked on NBA TV and the NCAA Tournament, including the men’s championship game. In 2023, she made history by becoming the first woman to provide color commentary for an NBA All-Star Game.

Tim Tebow

Tim Tebow spent three years in the NFL primarily as a quarterback but also transitioning to tight end towards the end of his career. Additionally, he dabbled in Major League Baseball, moving between various minor league teams before deciding to hang up his gloves. Since 2017, Tebow has been providing regular college football commentary on the SEC Network and ESPN.

Michael Bisping

Michael Bisping embarked on his professional Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) journey in 2004, eventually triumphing in the light heavyweight tournament of The Ultimate Fighter 3. His UFC career, which extended until 2017, included holding both the Middleweight title and the Cage Rage Light Heavyweight championship. In 2019, he started his color commentator role for the UFC, moving towards major pay-per-view fights by 2020.

Cris Collinsworth

Following an eight-season stint as a wide receiver with the Cincinnati Bengals in the NFL, Cris Collinsworth transitioned into broadcasting, a move that has garnered him 17 Sports Emmys. Notably, he took over as the color commentator for NBC’s Sunday Night Football when John Madden retired in 2009, and his voice can be heard in various versions of the Madden video game.

Doug Collins

Following an eight-year stint with the Philadelphia 76ers, Doug Collins took up various broadcasting roles. Notably, he functioned as a NBA analyst for both the 76ers and New York Knicks broadcasts. Beyond this, he’s contributed to networks such as CBS, NBC, TBS, TNT and ABC/ESPN. Moreover, his basketball knowledge was utilized in the coverage of the 2008 and 2012 Summer Olympics.

2024-10-26 00:38