Gerald McCoy Never Chased a Media Career With ESPN, NFL Network: The Networks Found Him

Gerald McCoy played eleven seasons at the highest level in the National Football League. A third overall selection of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2010, McCoy would go on to be a six-time Pro Bowl selection and a 2013 first-team All-Pro. He played the game with finesse and ferocity, but always with a smile and a fun personality.

During his career, McCoy was a media darling with both the local scribes and national networks. He made guest appearances during bye weeks and in the offseason, offering his expertise. It also was a chance for the country to get to know him away from the field. Now entering his fourth season working on NFL Network, McCoy says a second act in media was never a goal he chased like the quarterbacks he was used to sacking.

“I’ve been blessed with the gift of communication and natural non-fear of crowds and cameras,” said McCoy. “Because of the guest appearances I would do during my career, later in my career these places were reaching out seeing if I would be doing media when I was done playing. I kept telling my agent to hold off on those calls till I thought about leaving the game.”

McCoy is the son of two youth pastors, both of whom played in the church band. Because of this, his upbringing contained many instances of finding himself performing in front of crowds and singing solos in church. Those experiences helped McCoy become comfortable in a media setting and performing in front of viewers.

An Unplanned Opportunity

During his final year with the Las Vegas Raiders, McCoy found himself enrolled in the NFL media broadcast boot camp without his permission. The team’s public relations staff enrolled McCoy, who had been battling injuries during his time with the franchise in 2021.

“I was like, whatever I’ll go. Truth be told, our class was comprised of who’s spearheading NFL media now,” said McCoy, whose class consisted of Jason and Devin McCourty, Richard Sherman, and Cam Heyward, among others. “From that point on, NFL Network, FOX, and ESPN were there. Then once I announced my retirement a month later, I got a call that the NFL Network wanted to hire me. Here we go.”

From the start, McCoy was placed on NFL Network’s signature Sunday program, NFL GameDay Morning. Slotted into the second hour at the desk alongside Rich Eisen, Kurt Warner, and Steve Mariucci, McCoy says he had to find his way into blending in with a crew that he enjoyed watching for years while playing.

“I was trying to figure out how to be me within what they were asking. That’s what I did during my entire career with coaching changes, coordinators, and new teammates. I had to be Gerald within these schemes. It was no different here,” said McCoy. “You become naive to certain things. But It wasn’t until this past year that it hit me. I’m part of a show that’s been around for as long as it’s been around.”

From the start, McCoy credits the advice and support he received from current and former NFL Network teammates for his early media success. That included everyone from Warren Sapp, who pushed McCoy to be the defensive mind and voice on the program, to Eisen, who’s helped educate McCoy on knowing what to say and how to say it.

“The studio allows me to be a football player. You get what you’re going to talk about, and then you plot how you’re going to talk about it. Then on game day, we just execute,” explains McCoy. “Everyone involved has helped me out tremendously. They saw something in me, because the year prior they had Emmanuel Sanders in there. They didn’t bring him back, and now I’ve been there four years.”

The appreciation for that support overflowed during an emotional moment during coverage of last year’s Super Bowl. As the final moments of NFL GameDay Morning counted down with an uncertain future ahead for the network itself, McCoy spoke from the heart.

The newcomer to the second hour of the program just three years prior led off a touching tribute of thankfulness to the team at the network that had entrusted him with the opportunity.

“It was emotional because they embraced me when they didn’t have to. They are real friends with a true history with each other in everything they’ve experienced,” said McCoy. “Everyone on the entire staff supported me to become a part of that family… That was just a thank you because I wasn’t sure if we were going to be back together. I wanted the world to hear me say thank you.”

The Worldwide Leader

Over the past six months, NFL Network is different today than it has ever been before. Now fully overseen by ESPN, there were questions about how the network would operate under new supervision.

For McCoy, he is now an ESPN employee. An honor he considers special, having grown up watching the network for decades. However, the opportunity brings another challenge as he navigates his role within the top of the food chain at the network. Recently, he got his first taste of working with ESPN as an analyst on Get Up and going toe-to-toe with Stephen A. Smith on First Take.

“It’s a dream come true… The last time I talked with Mike Greenberg, he was still on Mike & Mike. Then working with Stephen A. Smith. The guy in sports entertainment? He’s the guy. That’s no easy task,” said McCoy. “They welcomed me in and I got phenomenal feedback on my appearances. Having that experience, it was a great opportunity, and I look forward to doing more.”

McCoy has the rare distinction of being a combatant in the arena with both Stephen A. Smith and Skip Bayless. Last season, McCoy was a co-host on Gilbert Arenas’ Gridiron podcast, which featured Bayless as the lead analyst. The former All-Pro considers both Smith and Bayless masters of their craft, and his experience with Bayless prepared McCoy for his debut with Smith.

While there’s still some mystery surrounding how ESPN will shape its football coverage this season with the NFL Network addition, McCoy fully expects to return to the NFL GameDay Morning crew this season. As for more appearances on ESPN programming, he’s still waiting for plans but is very open to any idea.

“I don’t mind being completely honest. I don’t know,” said McCoy regarding future appearances on ESPN this football season. “ESPN was house shopping and drove past a mansion, a phenomenal mansion. They didn’t go inside, check the plumbing, or check out each room. They just wanted the house and bought it. Now, they’re trying to figure out what they’re going to do with the house. That’s where we’re at right now.”

Being versatile and flexible has always been a goal of McCoy’s. With his media career, it’s no different from when he dominated the playing field for eleven seasons. Now under the ESPN umbrella, there have already been some conversations about additional opportunities that might be a fit.

“My agent and I talked about it [doing college football]. Before I got hired by ESPN, I was in talks to do college [football] with ESPN. The schedule just didn’t work out,” said McCoy.

As far as a return to co-hosting a podcast with Skip Bayless this season, McCoy believes that project is not returning this year. However, he didn’t rule out a complete exit from the podcast space with a simple, “Stay tuned” when asked.

A Promising Future

The next chapter of Gerald McCoy’s career may still have more questions than answers. That uncertainty, however, is nothing new for a player who spent eleven seasons adapting to new coaches, teammates, and schemes while finding a way to remain himself.

Now, instead of reading the offense from the other side of the line of scrimmage, McCoy is reading the game from behind a microphone. The settings may change, the network may look different, and the opportunities may continue to evolve, but the approach remains the same.

Be himself. He never chased a second career in media. It found him.

“This is where I’m at right now. I’m locked in and fully committed to it where I am right now,” said McCoy as he prepares for another season of NFL coverage.

With ESPN now providing the backdrop for the next stage of his journey, McCoy appears more than ready to see where it takes him. After all, he spent his playing career chasing quarterbacks.

Now, he’s chasing whatever comes next.

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John Mamola

John Mamola is Barrett Media’s sports editor and daily sports columnist. He brings over two decades of experience (Chicago, Tampa/St Petersburg) in the broadcast industry with expertise in brand management, sales, promotions, producing, imaging, hosting, talent coaching, talent development, web development, social media strategy and design, video production, creative writing, partnership building, communication/networking with a long track record of growth and success. He is a five-time recognized top 20 program director in a major market via Barrett Medi’s Top 20 series and has been honored internally multiple times as station/brand of the year (Tampa, FL) and employee of the month (Tampa, FL) by iHeartMedia. Connect with John by email at John@BarrettMedia.com.

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