The Long Game: How Cris Collinsworth Built a Legacy from the Gridiron to the Broadcast Booth

A Wide-Receiver’s Rise: From Ohio to the NFL Limelight

Cris Collinsworth was born on January 27, 1959, in Dayton, Ohio — a city sometimes called the “birthplace of aviation.”  His parents, both educators, relocated the family to Florida when he was a child, where he emerged as a standout multi-sport athlete. 

At high school in Titusville, Florida, Collinsworth won the Florida High School Athletic Association Class 3A state championship in the 100-yard dash and was named a high-school All-American quarterback.  His athletic promise earned him a scholarship to the University of Florida, where after an unforgettable 99-yard touchdown pass on his first collegiate attempt, he eventually transitioned to wide receiver. 

In 1981, his pro journey began. Drafted in the second round (37th overall) by the Cincinnati Bengals, Collinsworth played his entire eight-year NFL career with the franchise.  He delivered as a deep threat and mismatch nightmare, earning three consecutive Pro Bowls (1981–1983), posting multiple 1,000-yard receiving seasons, and leaving the league with 6,698 receiving yards and 36 touchdowns.

Though his on-field career was solid, it was in what came next that Collinsworth truly redefined success.

The Voice of Football: Transitioning to Broadcasting and Business

Retiring after the 1988 NFL season, Collinsworth pivoted almost immediately to broadcasting. He started on radio before landing a spot on Inside the NFL in 1989.  In 1990, he joined NBC Sports, rising steadily to become one of the network’s lead NFL game analysts.  Over decades, his voice — and signature “Collinsworth Slide” into the broadcast booth — became synonymous with Sunday-night football. 

But Collinsworth’s ambitions didn’t stop at color commentary. He became majority owner of Pro Football Focus (PFF), a data-driven analytics company that has become an influential force in how football performance is evaluated. Through PFF, he translated his on-field insight into a business model that resonates across teams, media, and fans — reinforcing his legacy off the field as well.

Counting the Payoff: Net Worth and Revenue Streams

Over time, the range and scale of Collinsworth’s revenue streams — from playing, broadcasting, and business — have placed him securely among the wealthiest figures in football media. As of 2025, different sources estimate his net worth in the ballpark of US$25–30 million. 

One anchor of that wealth is his longtime contract with NBC. Reports indicate his annual earnings as a lead NFL game analyst have reached approximately US$12.5 million per year, a significant jump from earlier in his TV career.

Beyond the paycheck, the value of his majority stake in PFF — plus other investments and real-estate ventures — underpin much of Collinsworth’s financial legacy. 

Life Off-Camera: Family, Home, and Private Foundations

While Collinsworth remains a public figure on television, he has kept much of his personal life grounded and private. He has been married to Holly Bankemper Collinsworth since June 3, 1989.  Together they have four children. 

The family resides in Fort Thomas, Kentucky, in a property Collinsworth helped develop into a sprawling compound — a testament to his off-field vision and investment discipline. 

Why His Birthday Matters — In More Than One Way

Scrutinizing personnels’ "age/birthdate" details may seem trivial, but for Collinsworth, born on January 27, 1959, that date anchors a narrative decades in the making — from a small-town kid with speed and dreams to a national voice shaping football culture. 

Moreover, the longevity implied by that birthday underscores how rare it is for former athletes to successfully reinvent themselves in media — let alone reach the financial and professional heights Collinsworth enjoys. His birthday serves not only as a biographical marker, but as a symbolic milestone in a career built over decades.

The Takeaway: A Story of Reinvention, Insight & Influence

Cris Collinsworth’s journey stands out not simply because he succeeded as an NFL player, or because he became a television staple — but because he mastered both worlds and then leveraged his insight to build something larger: a business, a brand, a legacy.

From sprinting high-school tracks to delivering live play-by-play analysis, from catching deep passes to owning a cutting-edge analytics firm, Collinsworth charted a path that few have matched. His estimated net worth is not just a number — it’s a reflection of a carefully constructed career that Balanced athletic talent, media instinct, and entrepreneurial drive.

By merging his deep understanding of the game with the power of media and analytics, Collinsworth has remained relevant, respected, and financially successful decades after his jersey number — 80 — was last retired on an NFL field.