Jay Cutler isn't one to bask in the limelight, though, that's not to say he's one to wholly shy away from it. Despite being rather tight-lipped during media sessions when he was slinging it for the Chicago Bears, Cutler's popularity exploded after his spot appearances on (now ex-) wife Kristen Cavallari's show Very Cavallari.
He now looks to parlay that popularity (and dry humor) into his newest gig on The CW's show, Inside the NFL.
As a player, Cutler set franchise records for the Bears after then-GM Jerry Angelo acquired him in the summer of 2009. His 23,443 yards and 154 passing touchdowns lead the franchise, and his completion percentage ranks second all-time for the Bears.
Despite the records, Cutler was a polarizing player during his Bears tenure. This reached a fever pitch in the 2011 NFC Championship Game when the Bears, facing their bitter rivals in the Green Bay Packers, lost their star quarterback after he tore his MCL. Critics questioned his grit and, for some, there was no coming back from what they perceived to be a player "quitting on the team" (an asinine assertion in hindsight).
Cutler's last season as a pro came in 2017 with Adam Gase's Miami Dolphins. After losing Ryan Tannehill to injury, the Dolphins signed Cutler to a one-year deal and the veteran played in 14 games. He put up a pedestrian 2,666 yards, 19 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions before hanging up the cleats and joining his then-wife Kristen Cavallari on her show Very Cavallari.
Cutler's image rebounded as a new fan base came to appreciate the dry humor and eye-rolling responses to his high-maintenance wife.
Now, Cutler is set to join the panel at Inside the NFL. A show going on 40 years, it has a new home this fall at The CW, and Cutler figures to bring a Roy Kent-esque perspective for the 2023 season.
He'll be stepping onto the set that former teammate and wide receiver Brandon Marshall (who controversially joined the program in 2014 while he was still a Bear) once worked on.
The two players brought fireworks to a historically anemic offense, and together they helped steer the Bears to the second-highest-scoring offense in 2013. But often is the case, with explosive players can come explosive personalities, and the duo would end their Chicago tenure not seeing eye-to-eye. Marshall has since come out and said that the two have buried the hatchet. However, it is poetic that the two of them will both end up writing their own histories on the longstanding program.
The 2023 iteration of Inside the NFL will include several former players in addition to Cutler. Former defensive back Ryan Clark will be the host, and Channing Crowder, Chad "Ochocinco" Johnson, and Chris Long will be accompanying Cutler as the show adds fresh voices to comment on the upcoming season.
Despite giving the outward appearance of ambivalence towards the quarterback position, Cutler was actually well respected for his football IQ. If he can couple his dry humor with legitimate football analysis, he should have a long future ahead of him.
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