Colorado University Athletics
Wilcots' Journey Different From Most Broadcasters
February 17, 2017 | Football
BOULDER — Former Colorado standout and NFL defensive back Solomon Wilcots was in Boulder this week as a lecturer in CU's Sports Governance course regarding issues related to NFL governance, including policies related to concussions, player association and domestic abuse issues.
Throughout his talk, the 52-year-old Wilcots referenced his experiences as a college athlete and professional football player to connect with the students in the class. However, it was his time interning at an insurance firm during the offseason and working for local television outlets after his playing career that allowed him to make poignant observations on policies related to recent scandals in the National Football League.
Wilcots, a four-year letterman, starred for the Buffaloes during the 1985 and 1986 seasons as a part of coach Bill McCartney's turnaround teams that produced two bowl appearances. After totaling 100 tackles, five sacks, 14 pass deflections and three interceptions over those two seasons and earning All-Big Eight honors his senior year, he was drafted in the eighth round of the 1987 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals.
Fresh out of college and onto the gridiron, the main focus of most rookies is to find a way onto an NFL roster. Wilcots was no different. However, after the first two games of his professional career, the NFLPA went on a strike that lasted three weeks.
Wilcots thought of going back to CU to take classes at that time, before returning to the NFL when the strike was over. He realized that he needed a backup plan, so during the next offseason, he found another job at an insurance firm. He enjoyed it so much that he continued his work in claims and human resources throughout his career when he had time off from professional football.
"I began to work in a management training program for an insurance firm," recalled Wilcots. "Every year when I played in the NFL, as soon as the last game was over – I even played in a Super Bowl and became a starter in the NFL – I'm going to work, sitting in a cubicle and managing claims for this insurance company. I worked as an underwriter. I learned and understood policies that involved insuring people from their homes, cars, boats, you name it."
Suiting up for the Cincinnati Bengals, Minnesota Vikings and Pittsburgh Steelers across six NFL seasons, Wilcots played in 92 games, recording two interceptions and three fumble recoveries. He also played in Super Bowl XXIII with the Bengals, narrowly losing to the Joe Montana-led San Francisco 49ers, 20-16.
His time spent between football and the "real-world" during the offseason allowed Wilcots to learn and develop when only one full-time job wouldn't satisfy his thirst for knowledge.
"I was curious to learn more in business," said Wilcots. "I learn more by doing than sitting in a class or reading a textbook. I'm a kinesthetic learner, so I need to be involved."
Following his playing career, Wilcots began his career in television as the weekend sports anchor for WLWT-TV in Cincinnati.
"I worked two years for free as an unpaid intern when I went to television," said Wilcots. "I had to learn how to edit, write for TV, and finally I became a sports anchor there at Channel 5."
Then, he was hired by ESPN as an NFL reporter before joining CBS Sports in 2001 as a game analyst for The NFL on CBS.
"I've been working in broadcast television for over 20 years," said Wilcots. "I've covered the PGA, NBA Finals, Super Bowls and the Final Four and college basketball. I've covered just about every sporting event there is. I do love the NFL, of course, I've played in it. It's been a part of my life since I left CU."
Looking back at his college career, Wilcots did not immediately see his potential to be on television at the time. But he did recall a professor providing some valuable advice that he took to heart.
"She said, 'Solomon, you don't talk the way you write. You sound better when you write than when you talk. If you're going to go anywhere in life, you've got to clean that up,'" Wilcots said. "She was right. That's when I kind of had a clue that I might be able to do this."
Now, in addition to his duties with CBS, Wilcots is currently a co-host on Sirius XM NFL Radio, analyst for NFL Network, columnist for NFL.com, and preseason analyst for the Cleveland Browns.
Returning to the CU campus this week has made Wilcots' journey come full-circle.
"Coming back to CU and being back here on campus in Boulder and seeing these marvelous facilities I think is just extraordinary," said Wilcots. "I think back to when I was here 30 years ago as a player. The barn we played in compared to this Taj Mahal."
