Louis Riddick facts for kids

Louis Angelo Riddick (born March 15, 1969) is a well-known American football expert. He used to play as a safety in the National Football League (NFL). He played from 1991 to 1998. Today, he is a color commentator for ESPN. He shares his knowledge about college football and NFL games.

Playing Football

Louis Riddick played college football for the Pittsburgh Panthers. He played both as a running back and a defensive back. While at Pitt, he was a four-year letterman. This means he played on the varsity team for four years. He was also an Academic All-American twice. He was a team captain in his final year. He earned a degree in economics from the university.

In 1991, the San Francisco 49ers picked him in the ninth round of the 1991 NFL draft. He also played for several other teams during his career. These included the Sacramento Surge, Atlanta Falcons, Cleveland Browns, Oakland Raiders, and Orlando Rage. He played professionally until 1998.

After Playing: A New Role

After his playing days, Louis Riddick stayed involved in football. He became a pro scout for the Washington Redskins. A scout helps find new players for a team. He worked as a scout for four years. Then, he was promoted to Director of Pro Personnel. This job involves overseeing the scouting of professional players.

In 2008, the Philadelphia Eagles hired him as a pro scout. He was promoted again in 2010. He became the Director of Pro Personnel for the Eagles.

Later, Riddick joined ESPN as an analyst. An analyst explains games and players to viewers. In 2020, he became an announcer for Monday Night Football on ESPN. This is a very popular NFL game broadcast.

Riddick has also been considered for general manager jobs. These are big leadership roles for NFL teams. He was interviewed by teams like the Houston Texans, Detroit Lions, Pittsburgh Steelers, and New York Jets.

Personal Life

Louis Riddick comes from a family of football players. His brother, Robb Riddick, was a running back. He played for the Buffalo Bills for eight seasons. His cousins, Will Lewis and Tim Lewis, also played in the NFL. They also held management jobs for professional football teams.

In 2022, Louis Riddick received a special honor. His old college, the University of Pittsburgh, gave him an honorary degree. It was a Doctor of Arts and Letters degree. This was to recognize his great work in sports analysis and broadcasting.