Former Jets linebacker Jonathan Vilma will be back in the NFL spotlight in 2020, but this time in the broadcasting booth.
According to the New York Post’s Andrew Marchand, Vilma is leaving ESPN to join Fox Sports as an NFL game analyst. He’ll likely serve as a color commentator alongside Kenny Albert.
Vilma previously worked on ABC’s college football pregame show with another former Jet, Mark Sanchez. He’s also made appearances on a variety of different ESPN shows, including “Get Up.”
Vilma was picked by the Jets in the first round of the 2004 NFL Draft out of the University of Miami. He was with the Jets for four seasons and made a Pro Bowl in 2005 when he recorded 128 solo tackles, six pass defenses, one interception and four forced fumbles.
Vilma then joined the New Orleans Saints where he finished out his playing career. He was considered one of the main players in the Saints’ Bountygate scandal and received a one-year suspension from the league. It was later revoked.
Now, instead of making the calls on the field, Vilma will be the guy analyzing what teams do from afar. Given Vilma’s playing experience and time at ESPN already, he should slide into the color analyst job rather smoothly.
