Kirk Herbstreit & Charles Davis as NFL commentators
Posted: Fri Oct 30, 2026 10:44 pm
Both were strictly college football commentators before also doing NFL as well. With Kirk’s longer and heavier rep with college (perhaps the ‘Dick Clark of College Football’), I still find it difficult seeing him doing NFL. Charles I see more with college than NFL as well being that’s what he strictly did at first, but am able to picture him quite better doing the pro game the more I see him do it. Seen as a better pro commentator than Kirk because of just how much attached, a fixture, Kirk was to college all this time and can really only see him as a college guy, or Charles simply being better? IMO, it’s both. Davis may even be a better college commentator than Herbstreit, but because of Kirk’s deep rep with college, it may prevent others from seeing it like that.
Neither ever played in the NFL. Kirk, of course, was Ohio St’s QB and Davis was apart of that very ’85 Tennessee secondary that INT’d Vinny T numerous times the year before Penn State did so. I wonder if he and Michael Irvin clashed at all in that contest? Both were never drafted but Charles did try out for the Cowboys. I read that he appreciated Landry at least cutting him in-person with the two having a nice talk, Landry giving words of encouragement with his, now, upcoming post-graduate studies to come. Correct me if wrong, but I believe Herb never at all pursued trying out for a pro team.
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Keith Jackson, the KING of College Football, I couldn’t picture doing the pro game. Far more talented than Herb and an even greater fixture in college football lore as well, I never watched/listened to a MNF game he announced. It’s hard to picture even though he had the talent; it’s just that he has so much college rep, it’s hard to see him doing NFL.
Harry Kalas, however, as much I see him as a Phillies voice first-and-foremost, he could do NFL fine as well. No John Facenda, but not a bad alternative.
Rush Limbaugh? Politics aside as well as ESPN controversy aside, whatever your take was on him he did have a great voice for sports radio as well had he wanted to choose that career instead.
Neither ever played in the NFL. Kirk, of course, was Ohio St’s QB and Davis was apart of that very ’85 Tennessee secondary that INT’d Vinny T numerous times the year before Penn State did so. I wonder if he and Michael Irvin clashed at all in that contest? Both were never drafted but Charles did try out for the Cowboys. I read that he appreciated Landry at least cutting him in-person with the two having a nice talk, Landry giving words of encouragement with his, now, upcoming post-graduate studies to come. Correct me if wrong, but I believe Herb never at all pursued trying out for a pro team.
———
Keith Jackson, the KING of College Football, I couldn’t picture doing the pro game. Far more talented than Herb and an even greater fixture in college football lore as well, I never watched/listened to a MNF game he announced. It’s hard to picture even though he had the talent; it’s just that he has so much college rep, it’s hard to see him doing NFL.
Harry Kalas, however, as much I see him as a Phillies voice first-and-foremost, he could do NFL fine as well. No John Facenda, but not a bad alternative.
Rush Limbaugh? Politics aside as well as ESPN controversy aside, whatever your take was on him he did have a great voice for sports radio as well had he wanted to choose that career instead.