Not every professional athlete pursues a second act in sports media after retiring from competition. Some choose to remain out of the public eye, while others seek an identity beyond the one they developed as professional athletes. For Logan Ryan of CBS Sports, a career in sports media was never part of the plan. But after an 11-year NFL career and two Super Bowl championships, Ryan felt compelled to make the most of his time away from the football field.
“It’s not about the money. It’s about the chase, grind and the journey that comes with it. I played in the NFL because that was my dream as a kid. Now, with this second career, I don’t want to be just known as an NFL player. I have too much of a brain on my shoulders just to be known as someone who tackled people,” explains Ryan, who is in his first season calling NFL games for CBS Sports on a full-time basis.
Like any football fan, Ryan grew up watching and falling in love with the sport. He appreciated its strategy and physicality, as well as the lessons that came from both victories and defeats. He went on to play three seasons at Rutgers University before becoming a third-round selection in the 2013 NFL Draft. Ryan entered the league knowing that nothing was guaranteed. Over time, he learned that opportunities are built on a foundation of preparation, trial and error, and growth through teamwork.
That same approach, which carried Ryan to the pinnacle of the NFL, has shaped his work with CBS Sports. During his later playing days, after leaving the New England Patriots, Ryan began to connect with audiences through media appearances and discovered the power of storytelling.
“I didn’t see a role in media coming following my career. But I became accustomed to doing media hits and that led to an opportunity with the NFL broadcasting boot camp. That’s when they talked about games and showed us how to do it,” said Ryan. “I tackled it head on, did an audition and CBS Sports hired me. Now, we’re off and running because I love the competitive nature of it.”
Same Approach, Different Role
Ryan strongly believes in the importance of work ethic and investing additional time and effort into mastering a profession. Rather than immediately stepping into a prominent broadcasting role as a two-time Super Bowl champion, he began earning experience through college football assignments while balancing his work with the NFL. The transition challenged Ryan as he adjusted to the different rules, rosters and dynamics of the college game.
That experience tested his preparation and approach to broadcasting, but Ryan understood that success at the college level could open the door to additional opportunities.
“I have these great stories with guys that I played with and against in the NFL. Just having that insight, I felt was valuable. It was important for me to get to the NFL as quick as possible, because these stories, you can’t take them with you forever,” explained Ryan. “The further away you are from the game, the harder it becomes to stay close to these sources. That’s why I’m super excited about the opportunity I received this year with CBS.”
This season, CBS Sports elevated Ryan to its NFL broadcast booth, where he works alongside play-by-play announcer Andrew Catalon and sideline reporter A.J. Ross. The assignment gives Ryan his first opportunity to call NFL games for the network on a weekly basis.
Ryan says his approach mirrors the way he communicated on the field as a player: Be straightforward, call the game as he sees it and share the sideline conversations that fans don’t often get to hear.
“It’s about being fair and critical. To me, I’m probably harder on my friends because they know I’d tell them the same to their face. I’m just critiquing the game of football, not the player,” said Ryan. “I know how hard these players work. They understand when they make mistakes. We’re all human, and they understand the position I’m in.”
Growing With CBS Sports
Ryan credits much of his growth at CBS Sports to the support he receives behind the scenes. He has learned from producers and gained opportunities to understand how a broadcast comes together, from the conversations over the headset to the work inside the production truck. Earlier this summer, Ryan signed a new, longer-term contract with CBS Sports, extending his relationship with the network.
“I have an agent, and there’s been interest [from other networks] for sure. But no one believes in me more than CBS Sports. That’s where I need to be, and I’m ecstatic with my relationship with CBS Sports,” notes Ryan. “CBS identified me early right from broadcast boot camp. We do the best of anyone else. I’m still learning how to call television taking the steps with the great CBS team I have.”
Part of that education came last season, when Ryan had the opportunity to shadow CBS Sports’ top NFL broadcast team, featuring Jim Nantz and Tony Romo. When the New England Patriots traveled to Tampa Bay to face the Buccaneers, Ryan received a front-row seat to observe how the network’s leading booth prepares for and executes a broadcast.
“I’m so grateful for that opportunity because it truly accelerated my growth tremendously,” said Ryan. “We’re creating a movie every week for the fans to watch, and it’s a big creative process. That team was the best team in the world, and they took me in. I got to sit in on meetings, and provided ideas which some got on air which was cool. It was like getting songwriters credit on an album. I took a lot of notes from that experience, because I don’t know if a lot of analysts get that kind of opportunity.”
Although Ryan re-signed with CBS Sports earlier this year, his role in the network’s NFL broadcast lineup remained unsettled. Following the reported arrest of top network analyst Tony Romo on an operating-while-intoxicated charge in Wisconsin, speculation emerged about how CBS Sports might adjust its analyst assignments.
“First, Tony [Romo] has always done a good job of teaching me about this role and the business. He always requested me in production meetings. Now that I’m in this role, I see how much love he showed me,” opened Ryan. “I just re-signed with CBS and was excited about what’s to come. Then a lot of shake up happened, and I was given a new higher role which I’m grateful and excited for… I was asked if I wanted a bigger role, and I said yes.”
A Desire For More
Ryan’s goal at CBS Sports isn’t necessarily to call the biggest games but to call the best games. With his expanded assignment, he recognizes the responsibility that comes with the network’s confidence in his abilities.
Despite practicing financial discipline throughout his playing career and saving his NFL earnings, Ryan wants to apply that same discipline to his broadcasting career by continually improving his craft.
“I’m more than just a dumb jock,” says Ryan, who also discusses financial literacy with players through collaborations with LinkedIn and other partners. “I want to be the best on television and provide an entertaining broadcast. I grew up watching football non-stop listening to a lot of legendary voices of the game. Now, I’m one of those voices and it’s so cool to say that.”
Ryan’s journey from the NFL to the broadcast booth is still in its early stages, but the competitive drive that carried him through 11 seasons and two Super Bowl championships remains firmly intact. He understands that the transition requires patience, preparation and a willingness to learn from those who have already mastered the craft.
Now, with CBS Sports giving him a greater opportunity to tell the stories of the game he loves, Ryan is determined to prove that some of his best work may come after his playing career.
“I want to be the guy when you tune into my game, you don’t click away,” said Ryan. “If you can laugh and learn something during one of my games, I’ve done my job and keep it moving. That’s the goal.”
For a former NFL player who never envisioned a career in sports media, the second act is no longer about figuring out what comes next. It’s about chasing another dream, embracing the learning process and earning his place among the voices that define the game.
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