Former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback turned television star, has candidly reflected on his lucrative transition to broadcasting after hanging up his boots. The 76-year-old sports icon, who retired from professional in 1984, quickly became a household name in media, rivalling the fame he garnered on the pitch.

Bradshaw's kicked off with CBS, where he landed a deal that dwarfed his earnings from his Steelers days. In a revealing chat with AARP, Bradshaw shared his initial post-retirement plans and the surprising turn his life took.

"Everything else came knocking," he said in an interview with AARP. "When I retired from Pittsburgh I owned a small farm, I had a small herd of cattle and a John Deere tractor. I was making, maybe, about $50,000 a year, and I felt like 'hey that's a pretty good living'.

"Then CBS offered me $100,000 and a three-year guaranteed contract. I only made $300,000 playing - that's a lot of money. So I went to CBS and that's how I got into broadcasting.

"I didn't deserve it, I didn't earn it, I didn't know how to do it. But you learn later that television is driven by celebrity, by stars, and I was a star, so 'yay me'."

After a stint with NFL Today, Bradshaw made another switch in 1994 to FOX's NFL Sunday show, becoming one of its most recognisable faces for decades to come.

"I love the commentating, I absolutely love it and I cannot wait to get to work Sunday," he said on Dale Brisby's Rodeo Times podcast last year about his role on TV. "I've been doing it 43, 44 years and the guys I'm working with, man, you would love it. It's a locker room atmosphere for us and we all love and care about one another."

While he's known for offering his take on the NFL, his celebrity has strayed over into the mainstream with appearances in numerous TV shows and movies. He has also released several country albums and even bagged a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2001, the first NFL player to do so.

However, while he is a beloved analyst for many fans, concerns over his performance on FOX have been scrutinised due to his on-air slip-ups throughout last season. There are now rumours that Bradshaw may be close to calling time on his career in the media glare.

Speaking at a press conference in New Orleans ahead of Super Bowl LIX, Bradshaw said: "I told my wife before I left the room a while ago. I got two years left at FOX.

"I'm 76. It's a young man's game, I get that. Everybody wants the new thing. So I said if we can get to the next Super Bowl [that FOX covers], I'll be 80. I think that's time and that's 80 years old and that's pushing it."

Bradshaw, who was the top pick in the 1970 NFL draft, guided the Steelers to four Super Bowl triumphs. From 1970 to 1983, he also bagged two Super Bowl MVP awards and an NFL Most Valuable Player title. He now resides in Texas with his wife Tammy and has three daughters, Rachel, Erin and Lacey.