Last year ESPN made a number of moves among its NFL analysts, not renewing contracts of some of their longer tenured analysts and putting fresh faces and recent retirees in major roles on Sunday NFL Countdown. The network added Randy Moss, Charles Woodson, and Matt Hasselbeck all in one offseason as former players just out of the league.
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The New York Times reports Tex will join the network as a studio analyst:
Just a few months into his retirement, the former Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira has already found a way back into baseball: He will join ESPN as an analyst. The network is expected to make the announcement Tuesday.
Known for his frank insights and sometimes blunt appraisals during his playing career, Teixeira is expected to work in the studio and could begin in spring training.
Teixeira previously worked on the radio and was a guest host on ESPN’s “Mike & Mike” show in 2014. He also had a cameo appearance on the Showtime series “Billions.”
I seem to randomly remember really enjoying Teixeira’s stint on Mike & Mike a couple years ago and thinking he had a solid future in broadcasting. The 3-time All-Star and 2009 World Series champ hit 409 home runs during his career that began in 2003.
ESPN confirmed the hire on Tuesday, noting that Teixeira will debut during ESPN’s Spring Training coverage.
“I couldn’t be more excited to begin this next chapter of my baseball career with ESPN,” said Teixeira. “I’m looking forward to being a part of their all-star rotation of commentators and to share my perspective with the fans.”
Tex is just 36 years old, so it’s possible that if it works out at ESPN he could have a good number of years at the network ahead of him as he joins the newest class of former players turned sports media personalities.