Netflix take chance on NFL Hall of Famer elect with unexpected move for broadcast novice

Luke Kuechly has reportedly been hired as Netflix’s No.1 play-by-play announcer for NFL games.

The streaming giant have been on the lookout for a name to lead their analysis ahead of their third season of NFL coverage and have gone with a big name – but one lacking big time booth experience.

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A report from The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand states that Kuechly impressed the streamer’s executives during a recent tryout.

His first role will be stepping inside the booth alongside NBC’s Noah Eagle in Melbourne, when the San Francisco 49ers take on early Super Bowl favorites the Los Angeles Rams.

The NFL’s first ever game in Australia will take place at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground on Thursday September 10 – the second game of the 2026 NFL season.

For the last two years Netflix has streamed two games on Christmas Day, but the streaming platform currently have five NFL games on the slate in 2026.

As well as the NFC West showdown in Australia, they have the NFL’s first game on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and a divisional rivalry Week 17 game to be confirmed.

Those games will sit alongside the Christmas doubleheader, which means a second broadcast team for the holiday, giving Kuechly a four-game slate for his Netflix debut.

Netflix turn to Kuechly to lead play-by-play

Marchand noted that Kuechly showed chemistry with Eagle, and the executives liked the idea of bringing a fresh new name into the broadcasting booth.

Eagle works for NBC and is the play-by-play voice of Big Ten Saturday Night – alongside occasional NBA coverage.

Previously, Netflix had turned to experienced names like Greg Olsen, J.J. Watt, Nate Burleson and Matt Ryan to call games.

Hiring Kuechly gives them security, despite the fact his resume isn’t as experienced as some of the names in consideration – Olsen is widely regarded as one of the best in the business.

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Kuechly’s former Carolina teammate has been dropped to Fox’s No 2 analyst role after the $375 million signing of Tom Brady – but Olsen has made no secret of his desire to be a No 1 and call the big games.

However it’s 35-year-old Kuechly who gets the gig, and does so with just limited prime-time experience, having served mainly as the Carolina Panthers radio analyst alongside Anish Shroff.

In 2025, he appeared on two ‘Monday Night Football Playbook’ alt-casts on ESPN2 alongside Dan Orlovsky and Field Yates.

Additionally, he hosts ‘JJ & Luke,’ a podcast alongside longtime Panthers teammate J.J. Jensen.

Kuechly to be inducted into Hall of Fame before Netflix debut

It’s no surprise that upon retiring from the NFL, Kuechly continued to work with the Panthers.

Selected ninth overall by the franchise in the 2012 NFL Draft, the linebacker would play his entire eight-year career with the team.

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He earned NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year honors in 2012 after leading the league in tackles.

The year after, Kuechly was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year after recording 156 tackles, two sacks and four interceptions.

The 35-year-old recorded at least 100 tackles in all eight of his NFL seasons. He made the Pro Bowl seven times and was named an All-Pro seven times.

He will officially be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in August alongside legendary New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, running back Roger Craig, wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, and kicker Adam Vinatieri.

The Hall-of-Fame enshrinement ceremony will take place on Saturday August 8, and will be available to watch on ESPN or NFL Network as a part of the broadcasters shared coverage of ‘Back Together Weekend.’

This will be followed by the Hall-of-Fame game between the Arizona Cardinals and Carolina Panthers – the first game of the NFL preseason.

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