Jay Cutler’s persona as an NFL player was that of an aloof, apathetic teammate prone to mistakes. That’s not really entirely fair, and many Bears fans who celebrated moving on from Cutler towards the ostensibly greener pastures of Trubisky-ville might have some regrets now.
Personality-wise, Cutler has always come across as fairly insightful when he decides to open up, with a dry sense of humor that’s lately been the best part about Very Cavallari, his wife’s E! reality series. That and recent hiring trends would seemingly make him a decent candidate to move to the booth, which he almost did once before, when a last minute opportunity to start in Miami scuttled a deal with Fox that would have seen Cutler join Kevin Burkhardt and Charles Davis.
This offseason, though, has potential for a lot of broadcasting turnover, and according to a report from The Big Lead’s Bobby Burack, Cutler has already met with both CBS and ESPN about potential opportunities.
Cutler recently met with both ESPN and CBS about a potential future in broadcasting, The Big Lead has learned from multiple sources with knowledge of the news.
…
Between Super Bowl week and the offseason, it’s common practice for networks to meet with former players interested in becoming analysts. As was the case in 2017, media sources are bullish on Cutler, often referring to his distinctive mind, personality, and reactions as reasons he would be a good fit.
Cutler’s polarizing career may actually be a bonus for him should he want to get into broadcasting now, as he brings name recognition that probably outweighs his career achievements. It’s not hard to imagine him being on ESPN’s list for Monday Night Football (which would be an admittedly tough landing spot for him or any new broadcaster), or as a possible option at CBS if ESPN lands Romo with the godfather offer they’re expected to present and CBS has to reshuffle.
Still, whether it’s a booth gig or in the studio, Cutler seems like a solid addition for any network, and he also brings the potential for comedy (both intentional and unintentional) that few other options on the market can match. He has quirks and opinions, he’s also only been out of the league for one season now, and getting a point across concisely has never been an issue for him. (NSFW audio.)
There’s a reason Fox handed him a role on one of their top teams straight out of the league, after all, and their choice to add him as the third member of a team makes a lot of sense as a model. He wouldn’t have to carry a broadcast and theoretically he wouldn’t have to try and be Tony Romo. That could be the way to go if indeed that’s something Cutler and a network want to do.
Regardless, if Cutler does make the move, NFL fans should be happy. Either they’ll get a competent new broadcaster (my bet) or they’ll get to make fun of Jay Cutler again, which was certainly a favorite pastime for many.
