Aug. 3, 2016
Jordan Rodgers’ remarkable summer just keeps getting better.
Within hours of claiming the final rose and winning JoJo Fletcher’s heart on ABC’s The Bachelorette show, the former Vanderbilt quarterback was back in the public eye Tuesday afternoon, on set as the newest addition to SEC Network’s growing list of on-air personalities.
Rodgers, who guided the Commodores to back-to-back postseason appearances, including a victory in the 2012 Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl, will become a studio analyst later this month, SEC Network officials announced.
Rodgers also becomes the first former Vanderbilt football player to join SEC Network on Aug. 23, as a contributor on the SEC Now show.
“The past few months have been a whirlwind for me,” Rodgers said via text message Wednesday. “In the midst of interviewing for a position with the SEC Network this past February, I received a call to take a leap of faith and try my luck at finding love.
“Who would have thought that I would find the woman of my dreams and land the job of my dreams all in the same month. I have devoted my life to football and I can’t put into words how excited I am about the opportunity to represent Vanderbilt once again as an analyst for the SEC Network,” Rodgers added.
A native of Chico, Calif., Rodgers was 11-8 as Vanderbilt’s starting quarterback during the 2011-12 seasons. During his career, he threw for 4,063 yards and 24 touchdowns. As a senior co-captain, Rodgers threw for 2,539 yards, the fourth highest single-season total in team history.
ESPN officials approached Rodgers about joining the SEC Network after the 2015 college footblal season season ended.
“We began planning for the upcoming college football season in February and Jordan was one of our first calls,” said ESPN Senior Vice President Stephanie Druley. “He had a unique perspective as a quarterback at Vanderbilt University and we were immediately impressed with his intelligence and passion for the game.”
Rodgers, 27, had auditioned for the SEC Network before The Bachelorette began airing in May when he and 25 other contestants began a television courtship with JoJo Fletcher. In the finale that aired Monday, Fletcher accepted Rodgers’ proposal. When introduced immediately afterward before a live audience, the couple also announced plans to relocate to Dallas.
“I’ve spent the summer studying in preparation for the football season,” Rodgers said. “Part of the job is based on personal experience, but knowing the rosters, stats and dynamics of 14 teams and their opponents every week is the work aspect.”
Rodgers joins a studio talent lineup that includes Heisman winner Tim Tebow, two-time Super Bowl champion Booger McFarland, national championship-winning quarterback Greg McElroy, national championship-winning lineman at LSU and Dallas Cowboys Marcus Spears, as well as hosts Dari Nowkhah, Peter Burns, Laura Rutledge and Paul Finebaum.