Nate Burleson spent 11 seasons catching passes in the NFL before reinventing himself as a national morning television host. This article covers his football career, his move into broadcasting, and what is confirmed about his family life.
Background: Who Is Nate Burleson?
Nate Burleson is a former professional football player and current co-host of CBS Mornings, alongside Gayle King and Vladimir Duthiers. He also works as a studio analyst on The NFL Today on CBS Sports. People search for him because his path from an 11-year NFL career to a national morning show desk is one of the more successful athlete-to-broadcaster transitions in recent memory.
Burleson was born on August 19, 1981, in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
What sets Burleson apart from many former athletes who move into broadcasting is the breadth of his media experience before landing at CBS Mornings. He built credibility gradually across sports talk radio, entertainment reporting, and NFL studio analysis before ever being considered for a general morning news anchor chair.
Latest Update
As of August 11, 2026, here is what’s currently known: Nate Burleson continues in his dual role as a CBS Mornings co-host and an NFL Today studio analyst on CBS Sports, a schedule that keeps him on air across both news and sports programming throughout the week. No new personal or professional controversy involving Burleson has been verified as of this date.
Full Profile
Family and Early Life
Burleson was born in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, where his father, Mario Burleson, played football professionally. His older brother, Kevin Burleson, played basketball at the University of San Francisco and briefly in the NBA. The family moved to the United States in 1983 when Nate was two years old, after his father signed with the Los Angeles Express of the USFL, and the family eventually settled in Seattle, Washington.
Career Path
Burleson attended O’Dea High School in Seattle, where he was named the Seattle Times City Athlete of the Year and won a Washington state championship in the 300-meter hurdles in 1999. He played college football at the University of Nevada, Reno, majoring in communications, and set what was then the Western Athletic Conference and Nevada single-game receiving record with 19 catches in one contest. He earned first-team All-American honors in 2002.
The Minnesota Vikings selected Burleson in the third round of the 2003 NFL Draft. Over an 11-season NFL career, he played for the Vikings, Seattle Seahawks, and Detroit Lions, appearing in 135 games and recording 457 receptions for 5,630 yards and 39 touchdowns before retiring in 2014. After football, he became a co-host of NFL Network’s “Good Morning Football” from 2016 to 2021 and served as a correspondent for the entertainment newsmagazine “Extra.” He joined CBS Sports as an NFL Today studio analyst in 2017, winning two Sports Emmy Awards for that role in 2021 and 2022. In September 2021, CBS named him a co-host of CBS Mornings, a role he continues to hold alongside his CBS Sports duties.
Burleson’s transition into broadcasting was not immediate after his playing career ended; he spent time building his on-camera skills through smaller media appearances before “Good Morning Football” gave him his first major recurring national platform. That gradual buildup is part of why his eventual move to a CBS Mornings anchor chair felt like a natural progression rather than an abrupt leap.
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 2003 | Drafted in the third round by the Minnesota Vikings |
| 2013 | Finishes 11-season NFL career with the Detroit Lions |
| 2016 | Becomes co-host of NFL Network’s “Good Morning Football” |
| 2017 | Joins CBS Sports as an NFL Today studio analyst |
| 2021 | Named co-host of CBS Mornings |
Age
Nate Burleson was born on August 19, 1981, making him 44 years old as of August 11, 2026.
Religion
Burleson’s religious beliefs are not publicly disclosed.
Spouse/Partner
Burleson is married to Atoya Burleson, and the couple has three children together, including two sons and one daughter.
Net Worth
Burleson’s exact net worth has not been officially disclosed. Estimates found online are unverified and should not be treated as confirmed figures.
Parents
Burleson’s father, Mario Burleson, played professional football, including a stint with the Los Angeles Express of the USFL. His mother’s name has not been made public through an official source.
Height
Burleson’s height is officially listed from his NFL playing days as 5 feet 11 inches.
Education
Burleson attended O’Dea High School in Seattle and later studied communications at the University of Nevada, Reno, where he played college football.
Hometown/State of Origin
Burleson was born in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, and was primarily raised in Seattle, Washington. He currently resides in Franklin Lakes, New Jersey.
Official Social Media
You can follow Nate Burleson on X (formerly Twitter) at @nateburleson.
On-Air Role and Public Reception
Burleson’s presence on CBS Mornings has been credited with bringing a more conversational, culturally attuned tone to the broadcast, often connecting sports and entertainment topics to broader news segments in a way that appeals to younger viewers. His background as a former player also gives him a unique perspective when covering sports-adjacent news stories, from player health to league labor issues.
His continued work as an NFL Today analyst means he remains closely connected to the football world even years after retiring as a player, allowing him to draw on current relationships with coaches, players, and league officials during his sports commentary segments.
Reader Questions (FAQ)
Who is Nate Burleson?
He is a former NFL wide receiver who now co-hosts CBS Mornings and works as an NFL Today studio analyst on CBS Sports.
How old is Nate Burleson?
He was born on August 19, 1981, making him 44 years old as of August 11, 2026.
How long did Nate Burleson play in the NFL?
He played 11 NFL seasons for the Minnesota Vikings, Seattle Seahawks, and Detroit Lions, recording 457 career receptions.
Is Nate Burleson married?
Yes, he is married to Atoya Burleson, and the couple has three children together.
Where did Nate Burleson go to college?
He played college football at the University of Nevada, Reno, where he earned first-team All-American honors in 2002.
What awards has Nate Burleson won in broadcasting?
He has won two Sports Emmy Awards, in 2021 and 2022, for his work as an NFL Today studio analyst.
What NFL Network show did Nate Burleson host?
He co-hosted “Good Morning Football” on NFL Network from 2016 to 2021 before moving into his current CBS roles.
Where does Nate Burleson live now?
He resides in Franklin Lakes, New Jersey, with his family.
What position did Nate Burleson play in the NFL?
He played wide receiver throughout his 11-season NFL career with the Vikings, Seahawks, and Lions.
What college did Nate Burleson attend?
He played college football at the University of Nevada, Reno, where he earned first-team All-American honors in 2002.
Wrap-Up
Nate Burleson’s transition from professional athlete to national morning show host stands out because it did not happen overnight. He spent years building broadcasting experience through NFL Network and entertainment reporting before CBS gave him a seat on its flagship morning program alongside Gayle King.
His ability to balance a CBS Mornings hosting role with ongoing NFL Today analyst duties on CBS Sports also reflects a level of range that few former athletes achieve in television, moving comfortably between hard news, lifestyle segments, and sports analysis in the same week.
His two Sports Emmy Awards for his NFL Today work also demonstrate that his broadcasting success is not merely a byproduct of name recognition from his playing days, but reflects genuine skill developed and recognized within the television industry itself.
As CBS Mornings continues under its current hosting lineup, Burleson’s football background continues to give the show a distinct sports-and-culture perspective that complements his co-hosts’ more traditional news backgrounds.
His journey from a third-round draft pick to a national morning show co-host also offers a useful case study for other professional athletes considering a media career after retirement, showing that a gradual, multi-step approach to broadcasting experience can lead to sustained success well beyond a playing career.
John Wood is the founder and lead editor of Biography Region. He researches and writes accurate, engaging biographies of celebrities, entrepreneurs, influencers, and public figures, delivering well-sourced, reader-focused content that informs and inspires.