Louis Riddick is one of the most trusted sports media names for scouting and NFL Draft development. He spent more than a decade working with teams like Washington and the Philadelphia Eagles, and played a big part in building the Eagles’ roster that won the first Super Bowl in franchise history.
Since his time in the front office, Riddick has worn several hats. He’s been a color commentator for ESPN’s NFL and college football coverage. But before he took a seat in the booth or on the sidelines, Riddick had a playing career of his own.
Revisiting Louis Riddick’s Playing Days
Born on Dec. 15, 1969, in Quakertown, Pennsylvania, Riddick had a strong football background that started at Pennridge High School in Perkasie, PA. He played college ball for the Pittsburgh Panthers, where he spent four years in the program.
He played running back and defensive back, was a two-time Academic All-American, and served as team captain his senior year.
Riddick was selected in the ninth round of the 1991 NFL Draft with the 248th overall pick by the San Francisco 49ers. But he didn’t see game action until the following year, when he joined the Atlanta Falcons.
He went on to play six seasons in the NFL, sticking to the defensive back position. He spent three years with the Cleveland Browns, returned to Atlanta in 1996, and finished his career with the Oakland Raiders two years later. After hanging up the cleats, Riddick began his front-office career in Washington as a scout.
Riddick’s Post-Playing Career
Riddick started as a pro scout for the Washington Redskins, where he worked for four years before being promoted to director of pro personnel. But his real value was in scouting talent, and in 2008, he joined the Philadelphia Eagles in a similar role.
One year later, he was promoted to assistant director of pro personnel. Riddick helped scout and draft future Super Bowl contributors like Lane Johnson, Fletcher Cox, Brandon Graham, and Nick Foles.
In 2013, he left the front office and entered sports media. Riddick joined ESPN and became a regular voice on shows like Get Up and First Take.
In 2020, he joined ESPN’s Monday Night Football broadcast team as an analyst, a role he still holds today.
Riddick has been interviewed for a few open general manager openings over the past few seasons, including the Houston Texans and Detroit Lions in 2020, the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2022, and the New York Jets in 2024.
