The Top Ten Television Football Color Analysts
Posted on January 26, 2012 by Jacob Bunn
Last Tuesday, I gave my top ten television football play-by-play announcers. Here is my list of the top ten football color analysts.
1. Todd Blackledge (ESPN – College Football)
When I think of a football television analyst who is fair, listenable, and knowledgeable about the game, only one name comes to mind – Todd Blackledge. He approaches each broadcast as a fan, and I think that is key. However, he injects his football intelligence nicely into his analysis. He does a great job covering mostly SEC football games for ESPN.
2. Chris Collingsworth (NBC – NFL)
As the broadcast partner of Al Michaels, Collingsworth is in the spot in which legendary color analyst John Madden used to work. So I think there was some skepticism at first about whether he would last long in that role. I think he has done a more than adequate job and is a brilliant analyst of NFL football.
3. Gary Danielson (CBS – College Football)
Danielson is the top analyst for the SEC on CBS package. Therefore, he is presented with intense and meaningful contests week after week. He gives strong opinions and sticks to those. I think there is something to be said for that. At the same time, though, Danielson upsets many SEC fans because of his dogmatic stances.
4. Kirk Herbstreit (ESPN – College Football)
Herbstreit cut his broadcasting teeth as the host of ESPN’s College Gameday. The Emmy award winning broadcaster has a smooth style to his analysis. As a former quarterback of Ohio State, he has earned the admiration of many with his ability to be objective when covering his alma mater.
5. Troy Aikman (FOX – NFL)
For years now, former Cowboy quarterback Troy Aikman has been the lead analyst for Fox Sports’ coverage of the NFL. He has improved tremendously since beginning his announcing days. He has become one of the commentators I look most forward to hearing on Sundays.
6. Matt Millen (ESPN – College Football)
Millen has been calling college football for ESPN for a number of years. He played linebacker in college at Penn State and then in the NFL for the Raiders, 49ers, and Redskins. I think he did a tremendous job in the aftermath of the Penn State scandal. As a former Nittany Lion, he was able to look more critically at the tragedy.
7. Jesse Palmer (ESPN – College Football)
The former Florida Gator has now become a regular college football personality on ESPN. During the 2011 season, he joined Rece Davis and Craig James in calling ESPN’s Thursday night primetime game. His analysis is well delivered, but I think he earned tremendous popularity with his audience because he was the alternative to James.
8. Phil Sims (CBS – NFL)
Sims joins Jim Nantz each NFL weekend to call the biggest games on CBS. He has had some memorable remarks after great moments. He is always fair and to the point.
9. Daryl Johnston (FOX – NFL)
I like to hear Johnston calling an NFL game. The two-time Pro-Bowl fullback for the Dallas Cowboys has always possessed an announcing style that is highly listenable. Combined with Aikman and Buck, Johnston gives more depth to Fox’s already superb NFL announcing lineup.
10. Jon Gruden (ESPN – NFL)
I know quite a few people who do not care for Gruden’s analysis. I am not the biggest fan in the world, myself. However, after you get past all of the hyperbole and unnecessary coaching rhetoric, you find that he knows what he is talking about for the most part.
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Email Jacob at jacob@bunnsports.com and follow him on Twitter at @JacobBunn
