Buffalo Bills
· 2026-07-10
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen is thinking about life after football. The 30-year-old star told CNBC Sport he would "entertain" a move into broadcasting once his playing days are over. Allen currently leads the Bills to a 12-5 record, sitting 6th in the American Football Conference on a W1 streak.
Allen announced a partnership with sleep-aid brand Natrol this week. During the interview, he opened up about a potential TV career. "I do think it would be cool if you can keep it from a strictly broadcasting angle," Allen said.
He's watched Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Tony Romo and Troy Aikman all make the jump. But Allen has reservations. He doesn't want to become the kind of analyst who says things he hated hearing as a player.
"When players go from players to journalists and say certain things that they hated people saying about them, I think that's where it gets a little murky for me," Allen explained. He said he goes "back and forth" on the idea and needs more time to think.
Allen's concerns echo those of Hall of Famer Joe Montana. Montana told CNBC in February that broadcasters often make unfair judgments because they lack the full picture. "Coming from the other side, as a player, you see so many times people were making judgments on a player or on what happened on the field, and they have no idea," Montana said.
Allen gets that. He knows how complex NFL playbooks are. Calling a game from a booth is different from running it on the field. That gap between what analysts see and what players know bothers him.
Allen could skip the play-by-play booth and join a studio show instead. Guys like Dan Marino, Boomer Esiason, Terry Bradshaw and Robert Griffin III took that route. Studio roles let former players offer insight without having to critique every single snap.
There are also independent projects. Peyton and Eli Manning host an alternate "Monday Night Football" broadcast for ESPN. Cam Newton has expanded his role at the network beyond just NFL coverage. Dan Orlovsky co-hosts "NFL Live" daily during the season.
The money is huge. Brady signed a 10-year, $375 million deal with Fox, per a 2022 New York Post report. Allen isn't rushing to retire, but the financial upside is obvious.
Allen is still focused on winning now. The Bills next face the Houston Texans on September 13, 2026. At 12-5 and holding the AFC's 6th seed, Buffalo has a real shot at another playoff run.
But Allen is also building for the future off the field. His Natrol partnership shows he's thinking about business opportunities while he's still playing. Broadcasting could be the next big move after football.
For now, Allen isn't committing. "I can't say for sure, 'yes' or for sure 'no' right now," he said. But the door is open. And with his personality and football IQ, he'd be a natural on TV.