There has been some talk that Kyle Long would potentially return to the NFL. The Jets had interest in signing him. Long’s playing days are officially over. Kyle Long has been hired by CBS Sports. Long will be part of the CBS Sports NFL pregame show.
CBS announced the news via press release:
“Former NFL veteran and All-Pro offensive lineman Kyle Long has been named studio analyst for CBS Sports Network’s THAT OTHER PREGAME SHOW (TOPS). Long joins panelists Adam Schein, Amy Trask and London Fletcher to form the cable Network’s Sunday pregame show team.
Long joins CBS Sports Network after a seven-year NFL playing career with the Chicago Bears, where he was a three-time Pro Bowl selection (2013-15) and one-time All-Pro honoree (2014). He played college football for the University of Oregon and was drafted by the Bears with the 20th overall pick in 2013.
“As a recently retired player, Kyle brings a knowledge straight from the field of today’s game coupled with the mindset of its current generation of athletes,” says Harold Bryant, Executive Producer and Senior Vice President, Production, CBS Sports. “His experience as an offensive lineman also will contribute a unique point of view which will complement that of his colleague London Fletcher, who spent 16 seasons as a linebacker in the NFL.”
“I am very excited to begin my broadcasting career by joining the CBS Sports family and the TOPS team,” says Long. “I look forward to bringing my experience and perspective as a recent player coming right off the field to the show each and every Sunday of the NFL season.”
TOPS, in its eighth season, kicks off on Sunday, Sept. 13 and airs on Sundays throughout the season from 8:00 AM-12:00 Noon, ET.
Other regular contributors to THAT OTHER PREGAME SHOW include Jonathan Jones, Fantasy Football experts Keith Irizarry and Jeff Ratcliffe, NFL TODAY studio analysts Boomer Esiason, Bill Cowher, Phil Simms and Nate Burleson, as well as Insider Jason La Canfora, and NFL ON CBS game analysts Tony Romo, Charles Davis, Trent Green, Rich Gannon, James Lofton, Adam Archuleta, Jay Feely and Tiki Barber.
Deb Gelman is the producer of THAT OTHER PREGAME SHOW. Tyler Hale is Vice President, Studio Production, CBS Sports and Harold Bryant serves as Executive Producer and Senior Vice President, Production, CBS Sports.”
Obviously, with Howie Long in sports media, he has many connections to help his son get right into the mix. Having Howie work at Fox for the number one pregame show in America helps. Time will tell if Kyle is as good on TV as his dad.
It sounds like Long won’t be part of the primary pregame show that features Boomer Esiason, Bill Cowher, Phil Simms, and Nate Burleson. Long will instead be part of a show that features Adam Schein, Amy Trask and London Fletcher. I honestly didn’t know that show existed but time will tell if Long can make valid points and provide a spark to that group.
