ESPN has made another change to its leading NFL studio show.
ESPN announced Wednesday that it has hired newly retired NFL quarterback Matt Hasselbeck as a studio analyst for Sunday NFL Countdown and Monday Night Countdown. Hasselbeck replaces Mike Ditka on Sunday Countdown, marking the show’s second cast change this offseason. ESPN hired Charles Woodson as a replacement for Keyshawn Johnson last month.
Hasselbeck and Woodson will be joined by the returning Chris Berman, Tom Jackson and Cris Carter, assuming there are no more changes.
On Monday Countdown, Hasselbeck will join the on-site studio team, which last season consisted of Suzy Kolber, Ray Lewis, Trent Dilfer and Steve Young. He will also contribute to ESPN’s usual assortment of other studio shows, including NFL Live — where he will work with his brother Tim Hasselbeck.
As for Ditka, who is also leaving his role on Monday Countdown, the longtime ESPN analyst will remain with the network in a diminished capacity. Within hours of Hasslebeck’s hiring, ESPN announced a two-year contract extension with Ditka that will see him shift to a year-round role on SportsCenter.
