Brian Baldinger

Brian David Baldinger (born January 7, 1959) is a former professional American football player and former color commentator for National Football League telecasts on the Fox network. He also covers Atlanta Falcons preseason games as an analyst on WXIA-TV with Randy Waters. Baldinger is currently in his sixth year with NFL Network, where he serves as an analyst with Sterling Sharpe and Brian Billick on Thursday and Friday editions of Playbook, as well as NFL Network’s signature show NFL Total Access. He is also a regular contributor to NFL.com.

Early years
Baldinger was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Always big, strong and athletic for his age, Baldinger spent much of his youth playing a variety of sports in and around Cherry Hill, New Jersey. His family later moved to Apple Valley, Minnesota, then Massapequa, New York where he and his brothers became well-known locally as they continued to excel in sports. He played high school football at Massapequa High School, and lifeguarded at Tobay Beach during summers.

Playing career
An offensive lineman, Baldinger played college football at Nassau Community College and Duke University; he graduated from Duke in 1982. He went undrafted in the 1982 NFL Draft. Baldinger was offered a free agent contract by the Dallas Cowboys to come to training camp and earned a roster spot. Baldinger later played for the Indianapolis Colts and Philadelphia Eagles.

Broadcasting career
Baldinger began his broadcasting career at Fox in 1997 providing analysis for NFL Europe games. The network was impressed with his soothing voice and handy repertoire of clichés, and promoted him to a color commentary slot for NFL games. Baldinger worked alongside play-by-play voices Ray Bentley, Curt Menefee, Joe Buck, Pat Summerall, Kenny Albert, and Dick Stockton.

In May 2009, it was reported that Baldinger would be replaced by former NFL safety John Lynch on Fox's telecasts. Shortly thereafter, Baldinger was hired by Compass Media Networks to serve as lead analyst for their national radio broadcasts of select Sunday afternoon NFL games.

Baldinger also co-hosts a talk show for Sporting News Radio during football season, and teaches seminars for Nadia Communications. He is the author of the book The Map to Clear Messages.

Baldinger currently co-hosts from Noon to 2pm, Monday-Friday, on a sports-talk radio show for Philadelphia's "97.5 The Fanatic" sports station, an ESPN Affiliate.

Personal life
A resident of Marlton, New Jersey, Baldinger has two younger brothers, Rich Baldinger, and Gary Baldinger, who also played in the NFL. Brian Baldinger has a heavily mutilated right pinky finger that was injured when it became entangled in the facemask of Randy White.