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[08/16/21 - 08:38 AM] ESPN Signs Pro Bowl Quarterback Alex Smith In the first year of his post-playing career, Smith will appear on multiple shows and in various roles, mainly surrounding NFL programming, including "SportsCenter." |
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ESPN Signs Pro Bowl Quarterback Alex Smith
· Former No. 1 Overall NFL Draft Selection Begins Post-Playing Career as an Analyst
ESPN has signed three-time Pro Bowler and 16-year NFL quarterback Alex Smith, as the former first overall NFL draft pick transitions from the playing field to an analyst. In the first year of his post-playing career, Smith will appear on multiple shows and in various roles, mainly surrounding NFL programming, including SportsCenter. Smith will have a role on Monday Night Countdown on select weeks and add contributions to Sunday NFL Countdown from time-to-time. The widely-respected veteran will also be part of ESPN's coverage of key tent pole events, such as Super Bowl LVI and the 2022 NFL Draft. Additional roles may be explored.
"ESPN's relationship with Alex dates back nearly 20 years when he was gaining national recognition leading Utah to an undefeated season and a top 5 ranking," said ESPN senior vice president of production Lee Fitting, who was producing College GameDay at the time. "As he begins a new career, we will provide him role flexibility to gain experience on different shows and settings, adding to our productions and benefitting fans in multiple ways. Ultimately, our mutual goal is setting up Alex for long-term success in this next chapter."
"When I announced my retirement in April, I knew I was walking away from the playing field, but was not walking away from the game," said Smith. "This opportunity with ESPN surrounds me with new teammates and provides a fresh challenge as my family and I begin the next phase of our life. I'll be contributing to ESPN's coverage in a number of ways this season, continuing the relationship with the game I, and so many others, love."
Smith retired from the NFL in April of this year, concluding a 16-year career which began as the No. 1 overall draft pick of the San Francisco 49ers in 2005. The California-native passed for more than 35,000 yards, threw nearly 200 touchdowns and appeared in more than 175 games, including five seasons with Kansas City (2013-17) and three with Washington (2018-20) following eight with the 49ers (2005-12). He earned Pro Bowl honors in 2013, '16 and '17.
Smith gained respect from fans near and far as the NFL world collectively followed his comeback from a severely broken leg, sustained in the 2018 season. His story about the injury was documented in a special edition of ESPN's E60, Project 11 in May 2020, including his battles with post-operative infection, how doctors and Smith's family had to make life-changing decisions, and his intense recovery and rehabilitation.
Smith would complete his comeback in October of the 2020 season, as he returned to the playing field. Smith would go on to appear in eight games in 2020 and start six games earning a 5-1 record. His perseverance and success earned him the NFL Comeback Player of the Year honor. E60 would run an additional episode on his story, documenting his comeback, shortly after his retirement.
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[10/28/25 - 02:07 PM] "Sunday Night Football" on Record Pace Through Week 8, Averaging 24.7 Million Viewers on NBC and Peacock Packers-Steelers audience peaked at 28.2 million viewers on NBC and Peacock in the second quarter (9:15-9:30 p.m. ET).
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[10/28/25 - 12:01 PM] Netflix Top 10: Week of October 20 - "A House of Dynamite" Hits the Target at No. 1 in This Week's Top 10 Plus: "Nobody Wants This," "The Elixir," and "The Monster of Florence" rise to the top in their opening weekends.
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[10/28/25 - 12:01 PM] ABC Announces 2026 Midseason Premiere Dates Premiering Wednesday, February 25, ABC is scrubbing back in for Sacred Heart Hospital with back-to-back episodes of comedy "Scrubs" starring Zach Braff, Donald Faison and Sarah Chalke.
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[10/28/25 - 12:00 PM] Mark Harmon to Make Special Guest Appearance as Gibbs on "NCIS: Origins" During "NCIS" Crossover Event Tuesday, Nov. 11 In the crossover event airing on Veterans Day, younger Gibbs (Austin Stowell) and team investigate the small-town death of a naval officer in the '90s - a case that's unexpectedly re-opened in the present day.
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[10/28/25 - 10:01 AM] Hulu Renews Hit Emmy-Award Winning Comedy "Only Murders in the Building" for a Sixth Season! The series will film overseas for the first time, with the beloved crime-solving trio leaving New York City to investigate London's newest mystery.
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[10/28/25 - 10:01 AM] HBO in Production on New Ronan Farrow Documentary Tracking Sprawling Criminal Case in Johnson City, Tennessee The film chronicles a maze of revelations about Sean Williams of Johnson City, TN, a serial predator, tracing both his decades-long evasion of justice and an ensuing scandal over claims of corruption and systemic law enforcement failures.
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[10/28/25 - 08:32 AM] Peacock Sets Streaming Debut Dates for Focus Features' "Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale," Universal's "Nobody 2" and DreamWorks Animation's "The Bad Guys 2" The three films will roll out on successive Fridays beginning November 7.
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[10/28/25 - 08:30 AM] Epic New Landmark Natural History Series, "Kingdom," Set to Premiere Saturday, January 24 on BBC America and AMC+ Narrated by renowned naturalist and three-time Emmy Award-winner Sir David Attenborough, the major new six-part natural history series chronicles the dramatic real-life sagas of four African animal families, in one of the most ambitious projects ever undertaken by BBC Studios Natural History Unit.
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[10/28/25 - 08:01 AM] BBC Confirms Future of "Doctor Who" and a New Christmas Special in 2026 With Disney+ confirming they will not be partnering on the next season of the sci-fi show, the BBC remain fully committed to the show and will announce plans for the next series in due course to ensure the Doctor's adventures continue.
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[10/28/25 - 07:09 AM] Season 5 of ESPN Original Series "Peyton's Places," Presented by Elijah Craig Bourbon, Premieres November 2 Exclusively on ESPN+ Josh Allen, Jason Kelce, Jim Harbaugh, Rob Gronkowski, Julian Edelman, Joe Burrow, Boomer Esiason, Chad Johnson, and more are among the featured guests.
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[10/28/25 - 07:06 AM] Get Ready to Switch - Again! Disney's "Freakier Friday" Streaming Exclusively November 12 on Disney+ Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan reprise their roles in this hilarious sequel.
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[10/28/25 - 07:01 AM] "One Piece" Season 2 Premieres March 10, 2026 Additionally, Netflix revealed a first look at Drum Island.
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[10/28/25 - 06:47 AM] Prime Video Takes the Spotlight with Its New "Karaoke Club" Show, A Celebrity Singing Tour Hosted by the hilarious Stéphane Rousseau, the series transforms karaoke into an electrifying experience where the stars deliver their signature style with humor, energy, and, above all, a whole lot of fun.
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[10/28/25 - 06:31 AM] "Michelle Obama: The Style, the Power, the Look - a Conversation with Robin Roberts - Special Edition of 20/20" Airs Sunday, Nov. 2, on ABC, Streaming Next Day on Disney+ and Hulu The "Good Morning America" co-anchor joins Obama at Marymount University in Virginia in advance of her upcoming book, "The Look" - a celebration of style from the moment she entered the public eye - to discuss the lessons she's sharing about her newfound confidence and empowerment.
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[10/28/25 - 06:01 AM] Netflix Announces "The Future Is Ours," A Dystopian Limited Series Starring Enzo Vogrincic, Emiliano Zurita, Delfina Chaves, Marleyda Soto and Marco Antonio Caponi The series will be the first audiovisual adaptation of renowned American writer Philip K. Dick's work in Spanish.
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