Emmanuel Acho: From Philadelphia Eagles linebacker to Bachelor host

As the Philadelphia Eagles turn their attention towards free agency, one former member of the team long since released is making headlines in NFL circles and otherwise for a particularly peculiar reason other than the game of football.

And no, we aren’t talking about something said on Chris Long’s podcast.

In a twist of fate no one saw coming, Emanuel Acho, the former Eagles linebacker who made headlines for his comments on Nick Sirianni on his FS1 show Speak for Yourself, has been named the new host of ABC’s The Bachelor aftershow After the Final Rose Special, replacing longtime host Chris Harrison following a controversial interview.

Is this the start of a new career for the player Howie Roseman once traded for Dion Lewis? Or just another footnote in a rapidly expanding career in media? Needless to say, Acho is rapidly becoming one of the most successful former Eagles around despite having earned roughly $1.29 million over his four-year, 20 game NFL career.

From sixth-round Philadelphia Eagles tradee to basic cable host.

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Initially acquired by Howie Roseman as a depth linebacker for new defensive coordinator Billy Davis’ 3-4 defensive scheme, Emmanuel Acho made his NFL debut in the Philadelphia Eagles’ Week 8 bout against the New York Giants in 2013, logging 12 defensive snaps in an ultimately losing effort.

Acho then earned a play bump the following week in the Birds’ 49-20 win over the Oakland Raiders, logging the only defensive snaps (23) he recorded all season. Though Acho’s debut was largely overshadowed by Nick Foles’ seven touchdown performance against Terrelle Pryor and the then-Oakland Raiders, the Texas product still finished out the game with two tackles and the respect of fans watching along at home.

From there, Acho developed into a subpackage player for the Eagles in what would go down as his final true NFL season, recording 265 defensive snaps and 103 special teams snaps in 14 games on the way to a spot on Pro Football Focus’ special teams All-Pro squad before being waived for the fourth time by Roseman and company.

And from there? Well, Acho’s career in broadcasting inadvertently took off.

https://twitter.com/EmmanuelAcho/status/1365805943049449475?s=20

Initially agreeing to join his alma mater’s Longhorn Network while he navigated looking for his next NFL opportunity, Acho found himself perfectly suited for a role as an on-camera personality and signed on to become a football analyst with ESPN and ESPN 2. Acho would go on to appear on a variety of shows from Cover Four to Get Up! and eventually his own show on FS1 alongside Jason Whitlock on FS1.

Acho also created his own YouTube show Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man, which landed the former LB a book deal and helped to elevate his status considerably outside of the world of sports, conversing with everyone from Oprah Winfrey to Roger Goodell, and even his fellow Texas Longhorns alumni Matthew McConaughey.

Sure, Acho still has a few fun Eagles takes from time to time on Twitter, but alas, it would appear his star power has significantly eclipsed the expensive world of pro football.

Is Emmanuel Acho turning into the next Michael Strahan before our very eyes? Not on the field, that’s for sure, but who honestly knows? This could be a one-time thing, or the former member of the Philadelphia Eagles could soon find himself the next great media personality. If that happens, at least fans in Philly will get to say they remember when he used to run up and down the field on special teams wearing a midnight green number 51 jersey.