Cutler joins FOX as in-game analyst
Quarterback Jay Cutler will, in fact, be following in the footsteps of Tony Romo.
A free agent for the entire offseason, Cutler has opted to end his playing career for the time being to begin a stint in broadcasting. He has been hired by FOX Sports to be an in-game analyst.
"We're thrilled to welcome Jay to the FOX Sports family," president of production John Entz said in a statement. "We're very excited about the potential he brings to the booth and are looking forward to hearing his analysis during what is sure to be another great season of the NFL on FOX."
Cutler will join play-by-play announcer Kevin Burkhardt and analyst Charles Davis in the broadcast booth of FOX's No. 2 team. He fills the seat vacated by John Lynch who left to become the general manager of the San Francisco 49ers.
Cutler hinted at retirement - or at least a forced retirement - in an accompanying statement.
"I don't know if retirement is the right word; I don't feel that anyone ever really retires from the NFL. You are either forced to leave, or you lose the desire to do what's required to keep going," Cutler said. "I'm in between those situations at this point in my life."
It was reported Thursday that Cutler had held an audition with FOX last week. His agent had previously stated that the 34-year-old was interested only in playing football, but teams looked elsewhere to fill their quarterbacking needs.
His wife, actress Kristin Cavallari, appeared to announce in March that Cutler was moving on from football with a shocking Instagram post.
Should this signal the end of Cutler's NFL career, he would hang up his cleats with 32,467 career passing yards, 208 touchdown passes, and 146 interceptions. He ranks 37th, 35th, and 61st all time, respectively, in those categories.
Cutler began his career with a three-year stint with the Denver Broncos and ended it playing for the Chicago Bears for eight seasons.
In his 11-year career, he played in just two playoff games, leading the Bears to the 2010 NFC Championship game, a game Chicago would lose to the Green Bay Packers.
Romo - also released from his longtime franchise this offseason - retired in April to join the CBS Sports broadcast team.