Netflix names former LB Luke Kuechly as No. 1 analyst for 2026 NFL season

Former Carolina Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly is set to be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame next month.

On Tuesday, it was announced that Netflix has tagged Kuechly to be the platform’s lead NFL analyst for the 2026 season.

Netflix has five games this upcoming season, including a Christmas Day doubleheader. The former linebacker will debut for Netflix on September 10 when the Los Angeles Rams take on the San Francisco 49ers in Australia.

Kuechly has not yet called a nationally televised NFL game. He does have some experience calling Panthers games on the radio.

The soon-to-be Hall of Famer went through a tryout with Noah Eagle. While he had plenty of football knowledge, he only played eight years in the NFL before concussions caused an early retirement.

Kuechly reportedly showed “immediate chemistry” with Eagle. He will now be one of the few non-quarterbacks to be counted on to call NFL games.

The former linebacker is set to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on August 8 alongside former Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald and former New Orleans Saints QB Drew Brees.

Carolina drafted Kuechly with the ninth overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft. As a rookie, he played in 16 games and had 164 total tackles with 1 sack, 2 interceptions and 3 fumble recoveries. These stats earned him the 2012 Defensive Rookie of the Year Award.

Kuechly was consistent the next season, finishing with 156 tackles, 2 sacks, and 4 interceptions over the course of 16 games. He was named the 2013 NFL Defensive Player of the Year.

The linebacker played eight seasons and was a 7-time Pro Bowler, 5-time First-Team All-Pro, and 2-time Second-Team All-Pro.