Will appear on NFL Live, SportsCenter and other ESPN platforms; Debuts July 17

Downloadable photos via ESPN Images

Super Bowl champion and six-time Pro Bowl center Jeff Saturday has joined ESPN as an NFL analyst. The 14-year NFL veteran will appear on NFL Live and SportsCenter and contribute to other ESPN platforms. He will make his debut next week with three days of appearances, July 17-19.

Saturday, who visited ESPN as a guest analyst in March, spent 13 years with the Indianapolis Colts (1999-2011) before playing his final season with the Green Bay Packers in 2012. Though he entered the league as an undrafted free agent, Saturday was a fixture on the Colts teams that won Super Bowl XLI and represented the AFC in Super Bowl XLIV. He was named by Sporting News to the NFL All-Decade Team (2000-09) and achieved first-team All-Pro honors twice (2005, 2007).

Saturday and Peyton Manning started an NFL record 172 games together as a center-quarterback duo. Over a decade-long period with the club, Saturday anchored a Colts offensive line that allowed the fewest sacks in the league (242), and his 132 career wins as a Colt are second only to Manning (141) in franchise history.

In addition to teaming with the four-time NFL MVP quarterback in Indianapolis, Saturday played his final season under center with 2011 NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay. He earned his sixth Pro Bowl appearance there and helped the Packers capture the NFC North title. He signed a one-day contract with Indianapolis in March to officially retire as a Colt.

“Offensive linemen make some of the best analysts because they understand the nuances of the game and they typically have fun personalities — Jeff definitely fits this mold,” said senior coordinating producer Seth Markman, who oversees ESPN’s NFL studio shows. “It’s also no accident he played center for two NFL MVPs in Peyton Manning and Aaron Rodgers.”

Added Saturday: “I look forward to joining ESPN, which is the premier sports network. I’m excited about the opportunity.”

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