Nate Burleson has had a long and successful career in the NFL, beginning with his time as a star wide receiver for the Minnesota Vikings. After 11 seasons in the league, Burleson retired in 2015 and began a new career as a broadcaster. Today, he is a first-string analyst on CBS Sports’ NFL pregame show, The NFL Today.
Burleson was born in Seattle, Washington and attended the University of Nevada, Reno, where he was a standout wide receiver. After being drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in 2003, he quickly established himself as one of the team’s top receivers. In his first season with the Vikings, he caught 69 passes for 1,006 yards and nine touchdowns. He would go on to have four more 1,000-yard seasons with the team, including a career-high 1,298 yards in 2007.
In 2009, Burleson signed with the Seattle Seahawks and spent three seasons with the team. He continued to be a reliable target for the Seahawks, catching at least 50 passes in each of his three seasons with the team. In 2012, he signed with the Detroit Lions and spent two seasons with the team before retiring in 2015.
After his retirement from football, Burleson began a new career as a broadcaster. He started out as an analyst on NFL Network’s Good Morning Football and eventually joined CBS Sports’ The NFL Today pregame show in 2018. On the show, Burleson provides analysis and commentary on the NFL’s biggest stories.
Burleson’s journey from NFL star to first-string broadcaster is an inspiring one. He has shown that it is possible to have a successful career after football and that it is never too late to pursue a new career. His story is a reminder that with hard work and dedication, anything is possible.
