Could Josh Allen Become a Football TV Talker After He Retires? (Super Simple Explanation)

Meet Josh Allen and His Situation

• Josh Allen plays in the NFL (the big league of American football) for the Buffalo Bills.
• His job on the team is quarterback (the player who usually throws the ball and leads the offense).
• He has been in the NFL for 8 years and is still playing at his best (we call that "in his prime").
• He turned 30 years old in May. Time flies, so he will be 40 before he knows it.
• Someday, like all players, he will stop playing football for a living.

Would He Become a Broadcaster?

A broadcaster is a person on TV or radio who talks about the game so fans understand it better.

Josh was asked: when he stops playing, would he become one?

He spoke with Alex Sherman from a news channel called CNBC. Here is what he meant in kid-friendly words:

• He thinks it could be fun to be a broadcaster who only talks about the game itself ("keep it from a strictly broadcasting angle").
• He feels weird (he used the word "murky") when former players become "journalists" (news reporters) and say the very things they hated hearing when they played.
• He would consider being a broadcaster, but he is not saying yes or no yet.
• He goes back and forth in his head and needs more thinking time.

Important: Josh Allen has NOT made a decision. He is just open to the idea.

Three Things to Know About Football Broadcasters

1. Broadcasters Are Not Exactly Reporters

• Football TV analysts are not really "journalists" (people who dig up news).
• (By the way, many folks called NFL journalists aren’t strictly "journalists" either—the word is used loosely.)
• Their job is NOT to uncover secrets "they" don’t want us to know or grill players with hard questions.
• Instead, they explain what is happening on the field to viewers at home.

2. You Can Point Out Mistakes Without Being Mean

• Because Josh has played so much, he knows the game well and could explain it clearly.
• It is possible to be critical (point out what went wrong) without being unfair (extra mean).
• The golden rule: criticize the play, not the player.
• Here are simple steps for doing that:
  1. Describe the action (e.g., "the ball was thrown short").
  2. Talk about the play itself, not the person’s character.
  3. Say only what needs to be said—don’t overload with harsh words.
  4. Let the audience fill in the blank if it’s clear a player slipped up, didn’t give enough effort, or did something less than ideal.

Important: The skill is to say enough so fans get it, but not so much that you attack the person.

3. The Job Can Pay a Lot—But Only Some Get the Big Chairs

• If you grab one of the prime spots (top broadcasting jobs), the money is really good.
• There are only a few of those top jobs available.
• If such a golden chance knocks on Josh’s door, it would be tough to say no.
• Why? Because it’s the best way to stay near the sport he loves even after he stops playing.

Summary

Josh Allen is a 30-year-old quarterback who has played 8 NFL seasons and is still great, but he’ll retire someday. He told CNBC he might become a football broadcaster, though he’s unsure and thinks it’s tricky when ex-players become reporters. Broadcasters mainly explain the game, not investigate. He could fairly critique plays by focusing on the action, not the person. Top broadcasting jobs pay well and keep him close to football. He just needs more thought.

FAQ

Q1: What is an NFL broadcaster?
A: A person on TV or radio who describes and explains football games to fans. Think of them as a friendly tour guide for the game.

Q2: Why does Josh Allen feel funny about players turning into journalists?
A: He thinks it’s odd when ex-players become news reporters and say critical things they used to dislike hearing about themselves. He’d rather keep it pure broadcasting.

Q3: Is Josh definitely going to be a broadcaster?
A: No. He said he can’t say yes or no, goes back and forth, and needs more thought.

Q4: How can a broadcaster be critical but fair?
A: By talking about the play (like "that pass missed") instead of the player ("he’s bad"). Say the needed point and let viewers connect the dots.

Q5: Why might he take the job if offered?
A: Because prime spots pay very well and let him stay close to the game he loves after playing ends.