RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 1 sourcesFormer Carolina Panthers star Luke Kuechly is set for a new sports media role heading into the 2026 NFL season.
The retired All-Pro linebacker figures to appear on phone and television screens this fall after reportedly landing a high-profile commentating gig. However, Kuechly’s role doesn’t appear to have him covering NFL games every week.
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The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand reports that Kuechly is set to become the lead analyst for Netflix’s gameday NFL coverage. This comes as a massive development nearly a week before Kuechly is inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
The 36 year old earns his 2026 Hall of Fame induction on Aug. 8 in Canton, Ohio alongside a star-studded group. Kuechly is joined by Drew Brees, Larry Fitzgerald, Adam Vinatieri and Roger Craig.
Kuechly spent eight seasons with the Panthers before retiring from the league at age 28. Many NFL fans were left shocked by his decision, but the standout defensive star suffered several concussions during his career.
Who will Kuechly team with for Netflix’s coverage?
Former Carolina Panthers great Luke Kuechly pounds the drum before the game at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
Netflix reportedly held a tryout in July for Kuechly to show off his broadcasting talents. That led to him wowing their executives, per Marchand.
This is a major decision from Netflix considering they’ve used other high-profile figures to call games in recent seasons. J.J. Watt, Greg Olsen, Drew Brees, Nate Burleson and Matt Ryan have all been on the microphone since Netflix began broadcasting games in Dec. 2024.
The streaming platform is building out its gameday team with a prominent name alongside Kuechly in the booth. Noah Eagle is set to be the play-by-play broadcaster to call games with the former Carolina star.
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Eagle is the son of longtime NBA and NFL broadcaster Ian Eagle. However, he’s carving out his own path in the sports media landscape calling college football as well as other sports that his father has done for many years.
🏈📺NEWS: Hall of Famer Luke Kuechly will be Netflix's No. 1 game analyst after recently wowing executives during a recent tryout, The Athletic has learned. https://t.co/ypoYJFDjP2
— Andrew Marchand (@AndrewMarchand) July 28, 2026 Netflix NFL coverage in 2026
The streaming platform is set to host five NFL games during the upcoming season, including two on Christmas. That means Kuechly and the rest of the Netflix crew will be quite busy throughout the year.
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Netflix also holds the rights to the first game of the 2026 regular season between the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers. The matchup is set to take place in Melbourne, Australia on Sept. 10.
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