As the Ravens were ushering in the John Harbaugh era with a 17-10 victory in front of a full house at M&T Bank Stadium, their former head coach Brian Billick was busy starting his own new career in New Orleans.
He was sitting in the broadcast booth with his partner Thom Brennaman doing the Saints-Buccaneers game as an analyst for FOX.
I talked with Billick about his broadcasting career and how he’s transitioning from sideline to broadcast booth.
What is it like watching games from the booth and not coaching on the sidelines?
I have to tell you that I miss the sidelines I love coaching, but that said broadcasting has been a great release for me. Doing the Tampa Bay-New Orleans game from the Super Dome was great. Talking to the coaches and the players, breaking down the game and working with Thom [Brennaman] was a great rush. I really got to watch a game and break it down without being concerned about winning.
What is the toughest part of your new job?
This will come as a big shock to all the folks in Baltimore but it is knowing when to shut up. I have to watch a replay, comment on what I see on the field and then make sure that I don’t step on what Thom is talking about. It really does take some doing, but it is great fun and the folks at FOX have been great to me. I will work some games as part of a two-man team like last week with Brennaman and then this week I will be part of a three man-booth with Dick Stockton and Brian Baldinger doing the Redskins’ home opener against the Saints. So yes the folks at FOX plan on keeping me busy and I could not be happier.
Besides the full time analyst role you have with FOX. You also are part of the Playbook team on NFL Network with Brian Baldinger, Sterling Sharpe, and Solomon Wilcots.
Yes, I enjoy going up to NFL Films and actually breaking down the coaches films and really getting into the X’s and O’s is like old times. Working with the Playbook team is also a real treat. They are true pro’s and the people at NFL Films give us great freedom to use whatever we need to tell the story. I am fortunate to be part of Playbook. It really is a wonderful show and the NFL Network has been great to me.
Jim Williams is a seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer, director and writer. Check out his blog, Watch this! on dcexaminer.com.
