Former Bears QB Jay Cutler Heads To Broadcasting Booth; Not Looking To Return To NFL

After having parted ways with the Chicago Bears and receiving little interest as a free agent in the NFL, veteran quarterback Jay Cutler appears to have decided to end his playing career.

Cutler has agreed to a deal with Fox Sports to become a broadcaster, and although there were doubts about whether he’d remain in the broadcasting booth, he put things to rest on Friday, via NFL.com:

“Yeah, I think so. Yeah. I think so,” Cutler said on WMVP-AM’s The Waddle and Silvy Show in Chicago, when asked if his move to broadcasting was permanent. “It is. I don’t really see anything else happening. I’m happy with where I am, you know, in my life and really in the future going forward. So, yeah, we can go ahead and say it. It’s permanent.”

Despite Cutler’s insistence on remaining retired, an opportunity will likely arise either closer to the start of the 2017 NFL season or during the upcoming campaign when injuries are suffered at the quarterback position.

Unlike Tony Romo who was still considered among the league’s elite players under center, Cutler really struggled his last few years in Chicago. The one-time Pro Bowler saw his stats decline year after year while the Bears fell into futility in the NFC.

Even if Cutler had decided to continue his playing career in the league, the veteran would likely have to settle for being a backup. The longtime Bears quarterback may have come to this realization after exploring the market leading to his decision to head into broadcasting rather than continue his career in the NFL.

Only time will tell if Cutler is really content with retirement or gets the urge for a fresh start if that phone call comes at some point during the upcoming NFL season.