New York Giants Super Bowl Champion Antonio Pierce Joins ESPN

Will Appear on NFL Live and 1050 ESPN New York and Provide Analysis on ESPNNewYork.com

New York Giants Super Bowl champion linebacker Antonio Pierce, who has announced his retirement from pro football after nine seasons, is joining ESPN as an NFL analyst. The 2006 Pro Bowler will appear on NFL Live, SportsCenter, ESPNEWS, and 1050 ESPN New York, and he will provide weekly analysis on ESPNNewYork.com, ESPN's home for New York sports news and information.

Pierce will officially start this month and will appear on NFL Live today at 4 p.m. ET with host Trey Wingo to discuss his retirement and his new role with ESPN.

During his nine-year career, Pierce played 137 regular season games (and seven playoff games) with the Redskins (2001-04) and Giants (2005-09). Pierce captained the Giants defense for five seasons, including 2007 when he helped anchor the championship team that upset the previously undefeated New England Patriots for a victory in Super Bowl XLII.  He was also named to the Pro Bowl that season. Selected by the Redskins as an undrafted free agent in 2001, Pierce finished his career with 687 tackles, nine sacks and seven interceptions.
"We are thrilled to add another Super Bowl champion of Antonio's caliber to our roster of NFL analysts," said Seth Markman, ESPN senior coordinating producer.  "His insights are refreshingly honest and we look forward to having him share his perspective with fans on NFL Live and other ESPN platforms, including ESPN Radio and ESPNNewYork.com."

Pierce added: "After nine years of having the privilege of playing in the National Football League, today I've decided to end my playing days.  I am blessed to have played with two great organizations, the New York Giants and Washington Redskins, and numerous outstanding players.  I am definitely going to miss the fans, the locker room talks, and the excitement of putting on a NFL uniform every Sunday, but I am ready to put on a new uniform, and I am extremely excited about contributing my knowledge and experience in this new endeavor to the championship team at ESPN. I thank my family, friends, teammates, and fans for their support throughout my career and as I move in this new and exciting direction."

In addition to his accomplishments on the field, Pierce was the spokesperson for the Giants Academy inner city youth program in 2006, and he works hard for a number of not-for-profit organizations, including YMCA, DARE, Cystic Fibrosis, My Sisters Place, ASC Football Camp, City Meals on Wheels and Make a Wish Foundation. Pierce received the United Way's Man of the Year award in 2007 and was honored by Minority Athletes Networking Inc (M.A.N) as its 2008 'MAN of the Year,' for his excellence in the community. A native of Long Beach, Calif., Pierce played college football at the University of Arizona.