ESPN names Keyshawn Johnson L.A.-based NFL analyst and will co-host a radio show

After being dropped from ESPN’s Sunday NFL and Monday Night Countdown earlier this year, it appeared that former NFL wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson was going to have to go to another network if he wanted to remain on TV and radio. But a funny thing happened as we approach the 2016 NFL season. Johnson has signed a new multi-year contract that keeps with the Worldwide Leader.

Johnson’s new deal has him based in Los Angeles and instead of being in Bristol, CT for the Sunday and Monday Pregame shows. Instead, Keyshawn will be given the ball to talk from L.A. where he’ll make appearances on SportsCenter and ESPN’s various NFL studio shows throughout the week.

In addition, Johnson will expand his role to co-hosting a daily radio show on ESPNLA 710, which is happened to be owned by, you guessed it, ESPN. Johnson’s on-air partner has yet to be announced, but as we noted last week, Keyshawn was already in the mix to take part in a radio show, so the TV part is just gravy at this point.

We have quotes from Johnson from the official announcement and as you can expect, he seems to be very excited about this new gig:

“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.”

Johnson is originally from Los Angeles so for him to be based in SoCal is just a natural fit plus he no longer has to travel to Bristol, CT. The radio show will not just focus on football, but all sports, so Johnson has the opportunity to spread his wings beyond football.

More details about his ESPNLA radio show will be released at a later date, but his new ESPN NFL assignments begin next Tuesday, so Keyshawn will be busy watching in the days leading up to his new radio show.

[ESPN]