CHICAGO — Jay Cutler’s playing days appear to be over. But his presence on TV on football Sundays will continue.
On Friday it became official that Cutler will now be launching his broadcast career, hired by Fox Sports to be a color analyst on a broadcast team that also includes Kevin Burkhardt and Charles Davis.
In a press release, Fox Sports president of production and executive producer spoke enthusiastically about Cutler’s hiring.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Jay to the Fox Sports family,” John Entz said. “We’re very excited about the potential he brings to the booth and are looking forward to hearing his analysis during what is sure to be another great season of the NFL on Fox.”
Cutler and Davis team up with Burkhardt after Burkhardt’s previous partner, John Lynch, left broadcasting this offseason to become the 49ers’ general manager.
The trio’s first broadcast will be the Bears’ third exhibition game, noon on Aug. 27 against the Titans in Nashville, Cutler’s home. Burkhardt revealed the schedule in an interview Friday on SiriusXM Radio.
Of course, Cutler will be tasked that day with analyzing his replacements with the Bears — Mike Glennon and Mitch Trubisky.
“The fact that’s going to be our first game out of the gate is pretty awesome stuff,” Burkhardt said.
Burkhardt was part of Cutler’s audition with Fox, which took place within the last two weeks. Cutler called him beforehand to ask for help on how to prepare and what to expect. Such intense advanced reconnaissance was unprecedented to Burkhardt.
“He went back and watched all these games and took notes as an analyst on some of the things the guys said and how they said it,” Burkhardt said. “I was really impressed by his whole preparation. I honestly was blown away by it.
“My gut when we got done, I was like: ‘Wow, he can do this.’ And that’s not always the case with those.”