Charles Woodson Reportedly Will Join ESPN 'Sunday NFL Countdown'

Fresh off retiring from the NFL in January, Charles Woodson will move to the studio next year as a member of ESPN's Sunday NFL Countdown, according to Jason McIntyre of the Big Lead. 

Woodson, a nine-time Pro Bowler who's considered among the game's greatest defensive backs, retired after 18 seasons earlier this year.

Woodson will reportedly replace Keyshawn Johnson, who left ESPN last month, per Richard Deitsch of Sports Illustrated (via McIntyre). While the network did not have an immediate comment, McIntyre noted that sources expect it to make an announcement before March. 

Woodson will join host Chris Berman and analysts Tom Jackson, Mike Ditka and Cris Carter, though Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk indicated that lineup may be in play for only one season "as the network tries to unload bloated salaries and simultaneously skew younger.”

The 2009 Defensive Player of the Year and three-time All-Pro played 11 seasons with the Oakland Raiders and seven with the Green Bay Packers, with whom he won Super Bowl XLV. 

In the college ranks, Woodson was the last defensive player to win the Heisman Trophy, beating out Peyton Manning for the award in 1997, the same year he won the national title with the Michigan Wolverines.

Woodson, who’s been the embodiment of a professional since breaking into the league, will level out some of the brash bravado Johnson brought to the role while using his wealth of experience at the game’s highest level to provide insider analysis.