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) from 1991 to 1998. Today, he is a commentator for ESPN, where he talks about college football and the NFL on ESPN.

Playing Career

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

NFL Draft and Teams

The San Francisco 49ers picked Louis Riddick in the ninth round of the 1991 NFL draft. After playing for the 49ers, he also played for several other teams. These included the Sacramento Surge, Atlanta Falcons, Cleveland Browns, Oakland Raiders, and the Orlando Rage.

Life After Playing Football

After his time as a player ended, Louis Riddick started a new career in football management.

Working as a Scout and Executive

He first became a pro scout for the Washington Redskins. He worked in this role for four years. Then, he was promoted to Director of Pro Personnel for the Redskins. This job involves finding and evaluating professional players.

In 2008, the Philadelphia Eagles hired him as a pro scout. He continued to move up in his career with the Eagles. On February 3, 2010, he was promoted to Director of Pro Personnel for the Eagles.

Becoming a Sports Broadcaster

Later, Louis Riddick joined ESPN as an analyst. An analyst helps explain games and players to the audience. In 2020, he became an announcer for ESPN's coverage of Monday Night Football, which is a very popular NFL show.

Consideration for General Manager Roles

Because of his deep knowledge of football, Louis Riddick has been considered for important leadership roles. He has been interviewed for general manager positions with several NFL teams. These teams include the Houston Texans and Detroit Lions in 2020, the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2022, and the New York Jets in 2024.

Personal Life

Louis Riddick comes from a family with a strong connection to football. His brother, Robb Riddick, was a running back 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 from his old college, the University of Pittsburgh. He was given an honorary Doctor of Arts and Letters degree. This was to recognize his excellent work in sports analysis and broadcasting.