Rich Weighs In on Russell Wilson’s Move from Player to CBS Sports NFL Analyst

Rich apologized in advance. His phone would not stop buzzing during the show, eleven texts deep before the first break, and he is not usually a man glued to his screen on the air. The reason was a wave of NFL news, and one piece in particular was worth stopping for.

Adam Schefter had tweeted that Russell Wilson is signing with CBS Sports as an analyst. Rich called it a great piece of news for both sides, if it holds up.

"He's going to be terrific at this job," Rich said. "He's going to be terrific at this job."

The conviction comes from firsthand experience. Rich was hosting NFL GameDay Morning when Wilson tried television for the first time, back near the start of his career. Wilson came on as a guest analyst and, by Rich's memory, was supposed to stay longer before he had to leave to fill in for Matt Ryan at the Pro Bowl, Ryan having just reached the Super Bowl.

There is a coincidence Rich enjoys here: Wilson once filled in for Ryan, and now, by Rich's account, he gets to do it on CBS.

Then there is the story Rich cannot let go of. Wilson beat him to the building that morning. Rich arrived at 4 a.m. and found Wilson already there, suited and booted.

"You're going to make me look bad," Rich told him.

Wilson went a step further afterward. He sent Rich a jersey thanking him for the opportunity, as if Rich had been the one who hired him.

The point underneath the affection is a real evaluation. Wilson was good on television when he was nowhere near the end of his playing days, just starting out, which is why Rich is so sure he will be good now that he is leaning into it.

On one front, the show stayed careful. The reporting suggests this is a pause in Wilson's playing career rather than a formal retirement, and it came up that he turned down backup jobs to take the analyst chair. Rich chose to hold off on that part of the conversation.

Whatever it is, his read was simple. If the news is true, CBS is getting a good one.