Host Biography

Former NFL Quarterback-turned-TV personality, Jesse Palmer is a prolific football analyst for ESPN and host of the Food Network's "Holiday Baking Championship."

Previously Palmer served as a host of Emmy® Award-winning "DailyMail TV," special contributor for "Good Morning America" and a contributor across all ABC News platforms, primarily focusing on big stories as well as news of the day and signature live events for "Good Morning America."

The former University of Florida quarterback joined ESPN in 2007 as a college football analyst after five seasons in the NFL. In 2014, he teamed up with Brent Musburger as a part of the lead game crew at the SEC Network for ESPN.

Palmer's broadcast career began with Fox Sports Net where he was an NFL game analyst. In late 2005, he was also a game and studio analyst for CSTV covering college football.

In 2008, Palmer became an analyst for "ESPN College Football Primetime," joining announcer Chris Fowler and analyst Craig James in the booth. In addition to the Thursday night games, Palmer served as a studio analyst on "College Football Live," ESPN's daily college football show and Saturdays, primarily on ESPN2 with host Wendi Nix. In 2009, Palmer added ABC studio analyst to his duties, joining longtime host John Saunders in providing pregame, halftime and postgame analysis for every telecast on ABC and during the half-hour "College Football Countdown."

From 1997-2000 at Florida, Palmer alternated at quarterback with Doug Johnson and then Rex Grossman. In 14 starts through 27 games played, Palmer is 11th on the Gators' career-record list with 3,755 yards passing and 12th in career touchdown passes with 31. For his career, he completed 254 passes. He also was named to the SEC's academic honor roll on 1998, 1999 and 2000 and earned the Dr. Lombardi GPA Award.

The New York Giants selected Palmer 125th overall in the 4th round of the 2001 NFL Draft. He spent four years with the Giants. In 2003, starting three of the six games in which he played, Palmer completed 60 passes for 532 yards and three touchdowns. In 2005, he briefly spent time with the San Francisco 49ers and later played for the CFL's Montreal Alouettes.

Palmer is also the national spokesperson for Good Sports, a nonprofit providing sports equipment to underprivileged kids.