ESPN has reached a multi-year agreement with Keyshawn Johnson that includes a multi-faceted new role on television and ESPN Radio. The Super Bowl champion wide receiver will work as a Los Angeles-based NFL analyst and become a regular daily host for ESPNLA 710 AM, ESPN’s owned radio station in Los Angeles.
In his NFL analyst role, Johnson will make regular appearances on SportsCenter and ESPN’s NFL shows from the company’s Los Angeles Production Center. He will also contribute features to Sunday NFL Countdown. Details on his ESPNLA host role will be announced in the coming weeks.
Johnson’s first appearance in his new position will be Tuesday, Sept. 6, on SportsCenter.
Johnson, who joined ESPN in 2007, has been a NFL analyst on Sunday NFL Countdown and Monday Night Countdown in Bristol since he retired from pro football. The No. 1 overall pick in the 1996 NFL Draft and a member of the Super Bowl XXXVII champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Johnson played 11 NFL seasons for the New York Jets, Bucs, Dallas Cowboys and Carolina Panthers.
“This opportunity represents the best of both worlds for me – having the chance to continue to talk about the NFL and other sports on ESPN, now in my 10th year with the company, while working in LA where I live year-round,” said Johnson, who grew up in Los Angeles and starred in college at USC. “Being a part of the Sunday and Monday Countdown shows in Bristol was a dream-come-true. At this point in my life, with my son going to college next year and still having two young kids at home, this is just a great fit for me and my family.”
“Having a Los Angeles-based analyst for SportsCenter and our NFL studio shows is long overdue and Keyshawn is a perfect fit for this role,” said Seth Markman, ESPN senior coordinating producer, NFL studio shows. “An LA native and current resident, Keyshawn will be a major contributor to our year-round coverage from the West Coast, especially during the NFL’s first season back in Southern California with the Rams’ return.”
“Our SportsCenter shows, particularly our shows based in Los Angeles, can’t wait to showcase Keyshawn’s wit and wisdom,” said Rob King, ESPN senior vice president, SportsCenter and News.
In addition to his work on ESPN’s NFL studio shows, Johnson was executive producer for ESPN Films’ 2015 30 for 30 documentary Trojan War about USC.