Charles Woodson Joins Fox Sports

Charles Woodson was fired by ESPN just a seven months ago. Woodson was canned in order to improve ESPN Sunday NFL Countdown. An effort that doesn’t seem to be going too well? Well, Woodson won’t be out of work for too long. Fox Sports came calling and Woodson will join their team. Woodson will work on NFL and College Football for Fox.

Sports Illustrated reported the details:

“Now the former Heisman winner and future Hall of Famer has a new home. FOX is planning to announce Woodson’s hire Saturday, industry sources said. He is slated to debut on FOX’s new college football pregame show, Big Noon Kickoff, September 21 when Michigan faces Wisconsin. The network declined to comment.

Adding Woodson provides balance to FOX’s show, a Wolverine legend to speak alongside ex-Ohio State coach Urban Meyer and a defensive player to fill the hole left by analysts Matt Leinart, Brady Quinn, and Reggie Bush. He won’t be on every week but is expected to contribute repeatedly, including on November 30 when Michigan hosts the Buckeyes.

Big Noon Kickoff debuted as part of a FOX initiative to own the early part of college football Saturdays. Hosted by Rob Stone, it has received solid reviews after two weeks, and while its ratings still lag far behind ESPN’s long-running College GameDay, Big Noon Kickoff‘s viewership numbers are significantly higher than those for last year’s comparable FOX offering.

A former Raider and Packer, Woodson will also appear on FOX NFL Sunday, joining fellow past defensive players of the year Howie Long and Michael Strahan, along with Terry Bradshaw and Jimmy Johnson. That show, which entered the broadcast Hall of Fame this year, has previously hosted other occasional contributors such as active players Josh Norman and Greg Olsen.”

Woodson has been working on media since he retired from the NFL after an 18–year career. Woodson signed with ESPN right after retiring. The entire pregame show for ESPN has been in the tank since Sam Ponder took over for Chris Berman. ESPN continues to tinker with it. Rex Ryan replaced Trent Dilfer two years ago. Now this season, Teddy Bruschi replaced Charles Woodson. The fact of the matter is, you can keep swapping out athletes and coaches. Doesn’t matter. Until ESPN finds another Chris Berman, the ratings will continue to suffer.

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I think FOX is thinking that Woodson brings a Michigan element to their show. Urban Meyer is already on the show so that brings a Michigan vs. Ohio State element. FOX already has 700 guys on the panel for the NFL pregame show. We’ll see what FOX ultimately has planned for Woodson.