Derek Rackley


Derek Lance Rackley is a former National Football League long snapper/tight end and a current a football analyst and broadcaster for the Comcast/Charter Sports Southeast nightly television show, SportsNite. He joined the Big Ten Network in the fall of 2010 as a game and studio analyst. Rackley regularly appears on The Big Ten Pulse also on BTN.

High school years

Rackley was born in Apple Valley, Minnesota and attended Apple Valley High School in Apple Valley. As a senior, he was an All-State Honorable Mention honoree and an Academic All-State honoree. He graduated in 1995 from Apple Valley High School with honors.

College career

Rackley attended the University of Minnesota and was a four-year letterman in football. He saw action as tight end, in addition to handling long snapper duties for four years. He worked for General Mills in Minnesota before he began his professional career.

Professional career

Rackley caught the only touchdown of his career on December 30, 2001 when the Falcons were playing at the Miami Dolphins.
He is now a color commentator for Westwood One and the Big Ten Network.