The Carolina Panthers are heading into the 2026 campaign with a sense of excitement. After surprisingly winning the NFC South division in 2025, there’s reason to believe that this team can take another step forward, especially with the division once again appearing to be there for the taking.
As the Panthers continue to draw more attention across the nation, they could have one of their former players, linebacker Luke Kuechly, providing analysis of their play to a broader audience. That’s because, according to a new report, CBS is interested in hiring Kuechly as an analyst next season.
CBS is Interested in Hiring Luke Kuechly
Kuechly only spent eight seasons in the NFL, all of which were with the Panthers, but he quickly established himself as one of the greatest middle linebackers to ever play in the league. Now, he’s begun to make a name for himself in the world of sports media, and it sounds like he could be set for a big promotion in this industry.
Carolina selected Kuechly with the No. 9 pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, and he was an instant star. Kuechly won the 2012 Defensive Rookie of the Year Award, before promptly rattling off seven straight Pro Bowl selections to finish off his career. Kuechly also earned seven All-Pro selections (five of which saw him land on the First Team), and he won the 2013 Defensive Player of the Year Award.
All of those accomplishments help explain why Kuechly is already in the Hall of Fame, even though he only retired back in 2019. Not only was Kuechly an excellent football player, but he’s also proven to be a fantastic analyst who uses his experience as a player to help break things down for whoever his audience ends up being. After briefly working in the national landscape, Kuechly could earn himself a full-time role in that department with CBS.
“CBS has also shown some interest in Hall of Fame linebacker Luke Kuechly, according to sources briefed on the talks,” Andrew Marchand of The Athletic reported. “Kuechly retired six years ago and has dipped his toes in national work, while also being the radio analyst on Carolina Panthers games.”
Luke Kuechly Isn’t the Only Big Name CBS is Eyeing
GettyLuke Kuechly, formerly of the Carolina Panthers
Kuechly has primarily worked as a radio analyst for Panthers games, but he still keeps close tabs on the NFL as a whole, which makes him a strong candidate to move into a bigger role in the sports media world at some point in the future. CBS is also reportedly eyeing quarterback Russell Wilson for a similar role, so whether or not Kuechly gets this job could depend on what Wilson decides he wants his future to look like.
Regardless of whether or not Kuechly gets this gig, he will almost certainly find his way into a bigger role at some point in the near future. Folks in Carolina were certainly disappointed that Kuechly decided to surprisingly call it a career after just eight seasons as a player, but he could play an even bigger role in helping cover the Panthers’ next playoff contender in 2026.
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