 Wilcots in 2014 | |||||||||
| No. 41 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Safety | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born | (1964-10-09)October 9, 1964 (age 61) Los Angeles, California, U.S. | ||||||||
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | ||||||||
| Weight | 189 lb (86 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school | Rubidoux(Jurupa Valley, California) | ||||||||
| College | Colorado | ||||||||
| NFL draft | 1987: 8th round, 215th overall pick | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
Playing | |||||||||
Coaching | |||||||||
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| Awards and highlights | |||||||||
| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
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Solomon Wilcots (born October 9, 1964) is an American former professionalfootball player who is a national television analyst and broadcaster as well as a head coach inYour Call Football. Wilcots played six seasons as afree safety in theNational Football League (NFL) for theCincinnati Bengals,Minnesota Vikings andPittsburgh Steelers. He playedcollege football for theColorado Buffaloes.
Wilcots attendedRubidoux High School inRiverside, California.[1]
He played college football at theUniversity of Colorado under coachBill McCartney. He was a medical redshirt as a freshman when the Buffaloes went 1–10, but the program enjoyed a turnaround during Wilcots' time there as a defensive back with records of 7–5, 6–6, 7–4, 8–4, and three bowl appearances.[2] He earned a degree in English literature.[3]
| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20-yard shuttle | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Bench press |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 ft10+1⁄4 in (1.78 m) | 186 lb (84 kg) | 30+3⁄4 in (0.78 m) | 8+1⁄2 in (0.22 m) | 4.60 s | 1.64 s | 2.63 s | 4.40 s | 31.5 in (0.80 m) | 9 ft 10 in (3.00 m) | 11 reps |
In the1987 NFL draft, he was chosen in the eighth round (215th overall) by theCincinnati Bengals.[4]
During his rookie season of 1987, he played in 12 games for the Bengals and recorded the first of his two career interceptions. In 1988, he was a starter in all 16 games, and in 1989 he played in all 16 games as a reserve defensive back. In 1990, he again played in all 16 games, including 10 as a starter. In 1991, he signed with theMinnesota Vikings, playing in all 16 games, and in 1992, his final season, he played in 16 games for thePittsburgh Steelers.[5]
Wilcots began his television career as a weekend sports anchor forNBC Cincinnati affiliateWLWT from 1994 until 2003. During this time he spent three seasons (1998–2000) as a sideline reporter forESPN'sSunday Night Football, for which he received anEmmy Award in 2000 for sideline reporting.[6]
In 2001, Wilcots joinedCBS, where he was acolor commentator forCBS football telecasts, first paired withIan Eagle from 2001 to 2008, followed byKevin Harlan from 2009 to 2013, andSpero Dedes from 2014 to 2016. He is also an analyst on theNFL Network'sNFL Total Access show. OnNFL Network, Wilcots can be seen each week on "Playbook", utilizing the same "all 22" game film that coaches and players use to preview all of the upcoming games, alongside an array of former NFL players includingBrian Baldinger,Sterling Sharpe andMike Mayock. Wilcots also is the co-host of "The Opening Drive" onSirius NFL Radio withMarty Schottenheimer,Gil Brandt andCarl Banks.[6] Wilcots announced his departure from CBS in May 2017.[7]
For several years, Wilcots served as a television announcer forNew Orleans Saints preseason games alongsideTim Brando.
Wilcots is now an analyst for Sky Sports in the UK and a guest analyst for Pro Football Focus TV.
He was also a Sideline Reporter in the2012-13 NFL Playoffs where he joinedSteve Tasker
Wilcots appears as a playable player inAll-Pro Football 2K8.