Unless it was nothing but a false start by media insiders, on Tuesday, daytime's Live! With Kelly is expected to announce that former NFL great Michael Strahan will become part of the permanent starting lineup.
Strahan, who won two Super Bowls with the New York Giants, reportedly will fill the co-host seat next to Kelly Ripa that was vacated by Regis Philbin in November 2011.
Unlikely pick? For sure.
Botched call? Certainly not.
Strahan, who also set the record for the most sacks in a single season, did well in dozens of guest spots with the feisty Ripa, reports say.
He has sported his signature gap-tooth smile in commercials for Snickers, Right Guard and other products, and had a co-starring role in 2009 in the sitcom Brothers.
As he tackles his new role as daytime TV host, we look at other pro football players who've had some success under the stadium lights and the studio lights.
Terry Bradshaw
Glory days on the field: Won four Super Bowls -- including two against the Dallas Cowboys -- as quarterback of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Glory days on the screen: Played comedic roles in two popular Burt Reynolds films, Hooper (1978) and The Cannonball Run (1981); dropped his drawers in Failure to Launch (2006).
Perhaps more famous for: His bald pate, loud mouth and goofy grin as NFL commentator for CBS and FOX.
What he's doing now: The Westlake resident, who turned 64 on Sunday, hosts Today in America With Terry Bradshaw, a cable television show blending business news stories and lifestyle features.
Jim Brown
Glory days on the field: All-time leading rusher for the Cleveland Browns; named by Sporting News in 2002 as the greatest professional football player of all time.
Glory days on the screen: One of the first African-American action stars, Brown had roles in numerous films, including The Dirty Dozen (1967) and The Running Man (1987).
Perhaps more famous for: Being the subject of Spike Lee's TV documentary, Jim Brown: All-American (2002).
What he's doing now: Maintains ties to the Cleveland Browns organization but was dropped as executive adviser in 2010.
Dick Butkus
Glory days on the field: Fearsome linebacker for the Chicago Bears; named to the NFL's All-Time team in 2000.
Glory days on the screen: Appeared in numerous films, including Gus (1976) and The Longest Yard (1974), and TV shows, including Growing Pains and MacGyver.
Perhaps more famous for: His Qwik-Cook Grill infomercials from the 1990s.
What he's doing now: Oversees the Butkus Foundation, which funds such charitable causes as steroid education and the Butkus Awards.
Mike Ditka
Glory days on the field: Won Super Bowls as player (Cowboys), assistant coach (Cowboys), and head coach (Bears).
Glory days on the screen: Portrayed himself as a Little League soccer coach in the Will Ferrell comedy Kicking & Screaming (2005).
Perhaps more famous for: Cameo in the recurring "Bill Swerski's Superfans" Saturday Night Live skit from the 1990s ("da Bears").
What he's doing now: Co-owns the arena football team the Chicago Rush.
Rosey Grier
Glory days on the field: Superstar defensive lineman for the New York Giants; won the NFL Championship in 1956.
Glory days on the screen: Played Gabe Cooper in 16 episodes of Disney's Daniel Boone television series (1964-1970); hosted The Rosey Grier Show (1969).
Perhaps more famous for: Helping capture and detain Robert F. Kennedy's assassin, Sirhan Sirhan; ministering to murder suspect O.J. Simpson.
What he's doing now: Serves on the boards of the Milken Family Foundation and Prostate Cancer Foundation.
Bo Jackson
Glory days on the field: First athlete to be named to both Major League Baseball's All-Star Game and the NFL's Pro Bowl.
Glory days on the screen: Guest-starred on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and Married With Children; scored bit parts in The Chamber (1996), The Pandora Project (1998), and Fakin' Da Funk (1997).
Perhaps more famous for: The "Bo Knows" ad campaign, highlighted by Bo Diddley telling the two-sport superstar, "You don't know diddley!"
What he's doing now: Resting up from his "Bo Bikes Bama" 300-mile cycling tour (April 24-28), which raised money for tornado-ravaged sections of Alabama.
Howie Long
Glory days on the field: Selected to the Pro Bowl eight times as a defensive lineman for the Oakland Raiders; won Super Bowl XVIII.
Glory days on the screen: Played USAF Master Sergeant Kelly in Broken Arrow (1996); took a star turn as smokejumper Jesse Graves in Firestorm (1998).
Perhaps more famous for: His many TV commercials, including RadioShack spots with Terry Hatcher.
What he's doing now: Emmy-winning analysis on the Fox NFL Sunday pregame show.
John Madden
Glory days on the field: Coached the Oakland Raiders to a Super Bowl in 1977.
Glory days on the screen: Entertained NFL fans with his colorful commentary for various NFL telecasts, including Monday Night Football.
Perhaps more famous for: His endorsement of the popular "Madden NFL" video game series, which began in 1988 and continues to this day.
What he's doing now: Morning sports updates for KCBS-74 radio in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Joe Namath
Glory days on the field: Led the underdog New York Jets to an upset win (which he predicted) over the Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III.
Glory days on the screen: Guest-hosted The Tonight Show several times; hosted The Joe Namath Show (1969).
Perhaps more famous for: His 1973 Brady Bunch appearance; his drunken "I want to kiss you" remark to ESPN's Suzy Kolber in 2004 (he was clearly "struuugaalling").
What he's doing now: Serving as an unofficial goodwill ambassador and spokesman for the Jets.
Merlin Olsen
Glory days on the field: Elected to the Pro Bowl a record 14 times as a defensive lineman for the Los Angeles Rams; ranked 25th on The Sporting News list in 1999 of the 100 Greatest Football Players.
Glory days on the screen: Played likable farmer Jonathan Garvey on Little House on the Prairie and the title role on Father Murphy.
Perhaps more famous for: His FTD Florist commercials, one of which lampooned Gone With the Wind.
What he's doing now: Olsen was diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma in 2009 and died in 2010.
O.J. Simpson
Glory days on the field: Only player to rush for 2,000+ yards in a 14-game season; won the NFL rushing title four times; named NFL Player of the Year in 1973.
Glory days on the screen: Ran through airports as a spokesman for the Hertz rental car company; played the painfully funny Officer Nordberg in the "Naked Gun" trilogy.
Perhaps more famous for: Being acquitted in 1995 of the murder of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ronald Goldman.
What he's doing now: Serving jail time at the Lovelock Correctional Center for his role in a 2007 sports memorabilia robbery at the Palace Station hotel/casino in Las Vegas.
Bubba Smith
Glory days on the field: Won Super Bowl V as a defensive end for the Baltimore Colts.
Glory days on the screen: Shilled for Miller Lite; appeared in the TV film Fighting Back: The Rocky Bleier Story (1982) and the Burt Reynolds vehicle Stroker Ace (1983).
Perhaps more famous for: His comedic turn as Moses Hightower in the first six "Police Academy" films.
What he's doing now: Smith died from acute drug intoxication and heart disease in 2011.
Carl Weathers
Glory days on the field: Not many -- played eight games (1970-1971) as linebacker for the Oakland Raiders and 18 games for the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League.
Glory days on the screen: Starred as an action hero in Predator (1987) and Action Jackson (1988) and as comedic golf legend Chubbs in Happy Gilmore (1996) and Little Nicky (2000).
Perhaps more famous for: Stepping into the ring with Sylvester Stallone in Rocky (1976), then reprising his role as Apollo Creed in three more films.
What he's doing now: Appearing in Bud Light commercials; basking in the glory of 2012's direct-to-video release American Warships, in which he plays Gen. McKraken.
