EAGAN, Minn. — By the time Nate Burleson joined the Vikings as a 2023 third-round pick, Randy Moss was a household name fast-tracking his way to the Vikings Ring of Honor and Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Burleson soaked up knowledge from Moss and contributed nicely for Minnesota in his first three pro seasons, highlighted by 68 catches for 1,006 yards and nine touchdowns in 2004.

Burleson made 103 starts in 135 regular-season career games and drew inspiration from within the Vikings receivers room decades before as he established what has been a tremendously successful and multifaceted television career.

While Moss, Burleson, Fran Tarkenton, Cris Carter, Brian Billick, Robert Smith, Pete Bercich and Ben Leber are among former Vikings who established strong "second" careers via the airwaves, it was what Burleson observed from watching Rashad, a Vikings Ring of Honor receiver and four-time Pro Bowler, cover the NBA that truly inspired Burleson's TV aspirations.

"Ahmad Rashad was literally my first ever motivating factor to think that I could be on TV," Burleson told Vikings.com in 2023. "How in the hell does a football player, one that was damn good at his job, all of a sudden start doing a basketball show, and he's kicking it with M.J. (Michael Jordan)? For as long as I can remember, he has always been a guy that I looked at and have kind of chased. That's why you see me in all these different spaces: football, basketball, entertainment, politics, news, societal issues. It's all because I saw Ahmad Rashad switch sports."

Burleson has flourished and had fun along the way. He and THE NFL TODAY turned back the clock in Week 3 last season, dressing in period attire from 1975.

On Sunday, he is scheduled to join host James Brown, Hall of Fame Head Coach Bill Cowher, Super Bowl champion QB Russell Wilson and All-Pro T Kyle Long as THE NFL TODAY broadcasts at 11 a.m. (CT) from near the Legacy Ship outside U.S. Bank Stadium to open the 2026 slate.

Kickoff between the Vikings and Packers is 3:25 p.m. (CT), and the 132^nd Border Battle will be on CBS.

Burleson, who attended a Broadcast Boot Camp organized by the NFL in 2012 and began working as an analyst for NFL Network in 2014, helped launch Good Morning Football as a co-host in 2016 and began his work for THE NFL TODAY in 2017.

He joked during the 2023 interview with Vikings.com about receivers being wired a certain way that leads to success on TV.

"I know we're divas on the field, but it works to our advantage once we get done playing football. It's a blessing to be mentioned along with all those superstar players," Burleson said. "There's something about this organization. They pour into you, they motivate you, they help you become a better version of yourself. It's not just developing you as an athlete. It's also developing you as a man and as a brand, and the standard has been set. The guys that have come before me have been the ones that have also encouraged me and served as motivation."

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Burleson's approachable smile and engaging personality have connected with viewers. Behind the scenes, he continued working hard and has expanded his range of coverage. A two-time Sports Emmy Award winner for Outstanding Studio Analyst, Burleson was named a co-anchor for CBS Mornings in 2021.

"What I love most about it now is when people see me, there's an admiration, not just for what I did in my past life, which was football," Burleson said. "It's not just an admiration for athleticism. It's an admiration for my intelligence. I think that's the biggest pat on the back I can get.

"When I was young and a kid walked up, 'Aren't you … Nate Burleson?'

" 'That's me, tell me how good I am.' "

" 'Man, that second year in Minnesota, playing next to Randy, put up a thousand yards.'

"I love hearing that. Who doesn't? A young player hearing about himself from a fan? That's all we wanted, and now that comes secondary," Burleson said. "Now, when somebody says, 'Aren't you the guy from CBS Mornings or The NFL TODAY?' or 'I saw you sitting down with J-Lo (Jennifer Lopez) or Barack Obama or Bill Russell, Michael J. Fox. I love what you do.' I'll take that 10 times out of 10 because it shows I successfully transitioned, and it recreates a narrative. It's not about me. It's more about … I have opened up the doors even wider for football players, NFL athletes to step into that space and occupy that space proudly."

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