The Dallas Cowboys have a history of graduating former players to the announcing ranks. Tony Romo, the franchise’s all-time leader in passing yards and touchdowns, became a CBS starlet analyst shortly after his retirement, taking the reigns of the coveted position and elevating his football legacy into an entirely different stratosphere.
Future Hall of Fame tight end Jason Witten also tried his hand at the television avenue, and brought his vocal talents to ESPN’s Monday Night crew after his initial retirement in 2018. Witten would return to the gridiron after a year away from the game in 2019 though, playing one season with Dallas and another with Las Vegas before finally calling it quits in Jan. 2021.
And Troy Aikman and Daryl Johnston have been doing the gig for years,
Now, Sean Lee is hoping to follow in the footsteps of his Cowboy predecessors.
According to the New York Post’s Andrew Marchand, Lee, along with Alex Smith, Mark Sanchez and Joey Galloway joined forces at the network’s recent analyst audition in hopes of securing a position in the announcer’s booth.
Alex Smith, Sean Lee, Mark Sanchez and Joey Galloway all recently auditioned for a game analyst position with CBS, per @AndrewMarchand. Smith also had an audition with Fox and meetings with ESPN and NFL Network. Fox also brought in former Washington HC Jay Gruden for an audition.
— NFL Update (@MySportsUpdate) June 9, 2021
Per sources, CBS had an opening after parting ways with Rich Gannon following the 2020 campaign. Lee certainly has a respected pedigree as one of the premier voices and minds in and around the game. He established himself as a leader early on in his tenure with the team, and his habitual film-room study, plus insatiable practice ethic made him one of the most lethal defenders in the game during his heyday.
His brain is certainly chock-full of valuable football gems and tidbits, and CBS won’t be the only suitor vying for his services should he fully dip his hat into the commentating pool.
And according to Marchand, Lee showed up and showed out during the tryout. He shone the “brightest” of his competitors, flashing potential of a “No. 2 or No. 3 game analyst.”
Coaching seemed to be the route Lee was destined for given his love for X’s and O’s, and propensity for teaching. But should he opt for a different path in his future, all inklings project long-term success as he carves out his next journey.