INDIANAPOLIS —Bruce Arians is a man of many talents, but two of them, perhaps more than others, stand out: his gift of gab, as well as his ability to break down an NFL offense or defense.
Both are going to come in handy in his life's next venture, as the former Indianapolis Colts coach today joined CBS Sports as an NFL game analyst.
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According to a press release](), Arians "will team with Greg Gumbel and Trent Green to form a three-man booth in calling games for the 2018 NFL season, along with reporter Jamie Erdahl."
"I always hoped that broadcasting would be an option after I retired from coaching as a way to stay involved with this great game," said Arians, who recently retired from the NFL after five seasons as the head coach of the Arizona Cardinals. "I am thrilled to have that opportunity with such a class organization as CBS Sports. As I begin my new career in the broadcast booth, I am excited to join Greg, Trent and Jamie and look forward to learning from them, as well as sharing my passion and knowledge for the game with the fans."
Arians has had a long and successful coaching career — both at the college and NFL levels — but he'll always be remembered for his time in Indianapolis for three specific memories: his work helping mold quarterback Peyton Manning as his position coach during the future Hall of Famer's first three years in the NFL, and his one season back in Indy in 2012 as offensive coordinator, again molding a No. 1-overall pick, quarterback Andrew Luck, in his rookie season.
But that 2012 season with the Colts eventually became memorable for a much deeper reason for Arians and the organization. On Sept. 30 of that year, Chuck Pagano, then in his first year as the Colts' head coach, told Arians that he had been diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukemia, and that he wanted him to take over as interim head coach.
From Oct. 1 through Dec. 24, an inspired Colts team rallying around their head coach would compile a 9-3 record with Arians leading the way. With his cancer in remission, Pagano returned for the final week of the regular season, and Indianapolis would finish the year 11-5 and earn a playoff berth.
For his efforts, Arians was named the 2012 Associated Press NFL Coach of the Year.
Arians has also served as offensive coordinator and wide receiver coach with the Pittsburgh Steelers (2004-11), working with quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, and also was the offensive coordinator for the Cleveland Browns (2001-03) and running backs coach for the Kansas City Chiefs (1989-92.).
"Combining his contemporary football insight, having just stepped off the sidelines, along with his personality and unique manner in which he delivers his analysis, we are confident Bruce will develop into an insightful, entertaining and informative analyst alongside Greg and Trent," CBS Sports chairman Sean McManus said in the release.
Twelve of the Colts' 16 regular season games are scheduled to be broadcast by CBS Sports during the 2018 season, opening the possibility to Arians being on the call for his former team.
