Former NFL linebacker Kirk Morrison spent the best years of his eight-year NFL career with the then-Oakland Raiders from 2005-2009 after being selected by the organization in the third round of the 2005 NFL Draft. And now, he will be returning to cover his former team as a broadcaster, adding to what will be a busy schedule for Morrison this coming football season.
Morrison has been a fixture on ESPN’s college football coverage dating back to 2017, working alongside play-by-play voice Mike Monaco and sideline reporter Dawn Davenport last college football season. Additionally, Morrison has been a regular contributor as a host on the SiriusXM NFL Radio channel since 2015.
On Friday, it became official that Morrison would be adding to his lengthy list of responsibilities this coming football season. In a press release, the now Las Vegas Raiders announced that Morrison would be joining longtime radio play-by-play voice Jason Horowitz as the new lead radio color analyst of the team.
Morrison issued a statement about the opportunity in the Raiders press release on the matter, calling it a “dream come true” to be returning to the organization after being a fan of the organization as a kid and later playing for the Raiders.
“This is a dream come true,” said Morrison. “I stand on the shoulders of guys that came before me. I feel like I’m unique, that I’m a unicorn in my own right. I’ve had the honor of being a fan first, so I know what the fan perspective is. I’ve had the honor of being a player for the Raiders. And now I hold the ultimate honor of being the analyst and the eyes, ears of not only the players, but also the fans. I’m connecting the two. I’m telling the stories of the player as a former player, but I’m also giving the fans what they need to know because I also sat in their seat. It’s kind like this big triangle, fan, player, analyst and I connect it all for Raider Nation.
“I loved playing football, but whenever I finished and hung up my cleats, I wanted to be a broadcaster. And I’ve done that on a national scale. But now joining the Raiders, I pinch myself. It doesn’t even feel like it’s real.”
Morrison will be replacing former All-Pro lineman Lincoln Kennedy in his new role, who served as the Raiders radio color analyst from 2018-2024. But Kennedy will remain in the fold, as he will instead transition to a role on Raiders pregame and postgame shows.
About Reice Shipley
Reice Shipley is a staff writer for Comeback Media that graduated from Ithaca College with a degree in Sports Media. He previously worked at Barrett Sports Media and is a fan of all things Syracuse sports.