Ross Tucker Ross Finch Tucker ( born March 2 , 1979 in Wyomissing , Pennsylvania ) is a former American football offensive lineman , and currently a media personality , entrepreneur , and motivational speaker . Tucker is a year - round host on SiriusXM NFL Radio , including his own show called " The Morning Kickoff " which airs 6am - 7am EST Monday - Friday and " The Opening Drive " which airs from 7 - 11am EST . He is also a television analyst for the YES Network ' s " This Week in Football " and NBC Sports Network ' s " Pro Football Talk " . During the fall Tucker serves as a color commentator for NFL games on Sports USA and for college games on both NBC Sports Network and YES Network . Tucker also hosts the " Ross Tucker Football Podcast " for Sports USA . He was hired by Sporting News as their lead NFL columnist in July of 2013 . Outside of his media pursuits , Tucker is the Co - Founder and CEO of GoBig Recruiting , a service that allows high - school student - athletes to submit their game and highlight videos to colleges online and know when it has been reviewed . Tucker is also a popular motivational speaker whose message focuses on each individual becoming their own personal best in order to live their life with no regrets . High school years . Tucker attended Wyomissing Area High School in Wyomissing , Pennsylvania , and won three varsity letters each in football and basketball . He was all - league at both offensive tackle and defensive end while earning all - county honors at offensive tackle . As a senior basketball player , he averaged 16 . 1 points and 9 . 8 rebounds . Tucker was a team captain in both football and basketball and was an outstanding student as well , winning the schools US Army Reserve Scholar - Athlete award . College years . A graduate of Princeton University , Tucker was a four - year starter on the Tigers Ivy League football squad . He started against Colgate University as a freshman at defensive end and in the offseason was moved to right guard where he became a starter his final three years . Tucker was All - Ivy in 2000 and a two - time Academic All - American at Princeton . NFL career . Tucker played for the Washington Redskins , Dallas Cowboys , Buffalo Bills , New England Patriots and Cleveland Browns . As of March 9 , 2007 Tucker re - signed with the Redskins , but was placed on injured reserve after suffering a neck injury . He has stated that he has played his last down of football in the NFL and officially retired in March 2008 . He played in 42 games in his 7 - year NFL career , starting 24 . In 2003 , he was named to the " USA Today " All - Joe team . Journalism / broadcasting career . Toward the end of the 2007 - 2008 season , Ross Tucker joined Sports Illustrated , writing on the NFL beat for their website . Ross left Sports Illustrated and joined ESPN as an NFL columnist in September 2010 . In July of 2013 Tucker was named the lead NFL columnist for The Sporting News . He is also the host of the " Ross Tucker Football Podcast " on Sports USA . A fill - in and weekend host since 2008 , starting with the beginning of the 2010 NFL season Tucker became the Host of " The Morning Kickoff with Ross Tucker " which aired Monday - Friday from 6am - 7am EST . Beginning with the 2011 season , he joined Bob Papa on " The Opening Drive " from 7am - 11am EST on SiriusXM NFL Radio , Channel 88 . Tucker can be seen on television Monday thru Wednesday evenings at 5pm ET on " Pro Football Talk " on the NBC Sports Network and throughout the week during the fall on the YES Network ' s " This Week in Football " show . He also calls NFL games for Sports USA and NCAA games for both NBC Sports Network and YES Network .