Chris Spielman Charles Christopher Spielman ( born October 11 , 1965 ) is a former American football player and is currently an analyst for ESPN ' s coverage of college football games . Football career . Spielman graduated from Washington High School in Massillon , Ohio , where he was awarded the Dial Award for the national high - school scholar - athlete of the year in 1983 . He is a 1988 graduate of The Ohio State University with a degree in recreation education . He was a two - time All - American , intercepted 11 passes , and won the Lombardi Award as the best college football lineman or linebacker . Spielman was drafted 29th in the 1988 NFL Draft , by the Detroit Lions . Spielman played eight seasons with the Lions ( 1988 – 95 ) , and was a defensive stalwart during the team ’ s run to four playoff appearances , two NFC Central titles , and a berth in the 1991 NFC Championship Game . He captained the Lions defense that was one of the best statistically in the NFL in the mid - 1990s . Spielman is Detroit ’ s all - time leader in career tackles with 1 , 138 ( since the team began recording tackles statistically in 1973 . ) He also recorded 10 sacks , four interceptions , 30 pass defenses , 13 forced fumbles and 17 fumble recoveries during his Lions ’ career . He was the first Lion to lead the team in tackles seven consecutive seasons since 1973 , including the team ’ s highest single - season tally of 195 tackles in 1994 . In 1995 , he joined Lawrence Taylor ' s all pro team at Wrestlemania XI and had a feud with Tatanka . Spielman represented the Lions in four Pro Bowls ( 1990 – 92 , 1995 ) and was named the team ’ s defensive MVP in 1993 and 1994 . He played for the Buffalo Bills in 1996 and 1997 . In 1996 , he set a team and personal record with 206 tackles . His 1997 season was limited because of a neck injury that required spinal surgery . He chose to miss the 1998 season to assist his wife battling cancer . He returned to the NFL in the 1999 season , with the Cleveland Browns . He retired before the regular season began , after suffering another neck injury . Spielman is also notable for being one of the players notable NFL Draft " guru " Mel Kiper , Jr . has " missed " on , Kiper admitting in a 2001 post that he had underrated the linebacker . In April 2009 Spielman was elected into the College Football Hall of Fame . His induction came in July 2010 . In 2012 he appeared in an episode of the NFL Network show " A Football Life " , the episode showed how he was not only a great player on the field but a great man off the field for his family . Broadcasting career . Chris Spielman ' s broadcasting career started in 1999 , as an NFL studio - show analyst for Fox Sports Net . After two years with FSN , Spielman joined ESPN in 2001 . He serves as a color analyst for college football broadcasts , as well as studio analyst for college football . Spielman has won praise from some broadcasting peers , including " Sports Illustrated ' s " Dr . Z , who wrote that " " . . . Chris Spielman will come up with some startlingly accurate observations too " " . Spielman is also a contributor to the Columbus , Ohio based FM radio station 97 . 1 The Fan ; 97 . 1 is an ESPN Radio affiliate . He is a former star and host of the 12 - 2pm show " Spielman on Sports . " Spielman also appears every Tuesday afternoon on AM 1270 WXYT , a sports - talk radio station in Detroit . Spielman also served as a color analyst for the Detroit Lions during the preseason . In 2006 , Spielman hosted a reality series on ESPNU called " Summer House " . Coaching career . Spielman was the coach of the Columbus Destroyers , an Arena Football League team , in 2005 . He coached one season , compiling a 2 - 15 record . After the 2000 season , Spielman interviewed for the vacant head coaching position at Ohio State previously held by John Cooper . However , the job eventually went to Jim Tressel . Family . Chris and Stefanie Spielman had four children , Madison , Noah , Macy and Audrey . Stefanie Spielman survived four bouts with breast cancer . Both she and her husband were active in raising funds for breast cancer research . Ultimately , however , she died on November 19 , 2009 , after the disease returned for the fifth time . While undergoing treatment Stefanie had lost her hair , at which time Chris voluntarily shaved his head in solidarity with his wife . The Spielman family resides in Upper Arlington , a suburb of Columbus , Ohio . His elder brother is the current Minnesota Vikings ' general manager , Rick Spielman .