Bryant McFadden

“I wanted to get better,” says two-time Super Bowl champion Bryant McFadden, of why he began working with Annie H. Hoffman in 2015. 

The former American football cornerback, who was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2005 and later played for the Arizona Cardinals, discovered Hoffman through his broadcasting agent. As McFadden started out in the sportscasting arm of his career, his agent recommended that he work with Hoffman to fine-tune his broadcasting skills. Once McFadden reviewed her extensive resume, the few other media trainers he was considering were off the table immediately. There was no comparison.

“Broadcasting is something I wanted to be seriously involved in and I wanted to improve. I had heard good things about Annie and what she brought to the table. She is well respected in the industry and has a lot of experience,” McFadden says.

“I was excited to work with Bryant because I could see his potential as a broadcaster and wanted to help him refine his on-camera presence while allowing his great, authentic personality to shine through,” says Hoffman. 

Next-Level Broadcast Coaching

McFadden signed up for Hoffman’s media training service and post-show feedback calls. Through in-person and remote sessions over two years, Hoffman coached him on the best practices to being a successful on-air personality including honing his voice, image and the way he presented himself to an audience and industry colleagues. 

“I needed a lot of work,” McFadden admits. “Speaking in conversation with friends is one thing, but talking when the camera on you is totally different. Certain things that you say regularly might come across as cliché if someone doesn’t know you.”

He adds, “Annie took the time to break down every single element that needed breaking down. She didn’t miss anything that was important. If I enunciated one word wrong, she would catch it. Long story short, nothing got through without her seeing it or hearing it.”

“My clients hire me for my detailed approach to media and broadcast training. My proven formula, presented with positivity and the best interest of the client at heart always, works,” says Hoffman.

Throughout their work together, McFadden says Hoffman made him feel comfortable. “It was business, but in a comfortable setting. The process was as smooth as possible.” 

Moving the Career Needle Far Forward

McFadden notes that Hoffman went above and beyond to connect him with industry insiders and get him guest appearances to talk football on various platforms, which propelled his career forward. “She does that even to this day!” he says.

The demo reel Annie H. Hoffman LLC produced for McFadden showcased his growth as a broadcaster and was a key piece for him to present hiring managers with during the interview process. A polished piece of “evidence,” it opened the way to more job opportunities.

Soon after working with Hoffman, in 2017, McFadden landed his dream job at CBS Sports. Today, he is a football analyst for CBS Sports HQ.

“I predicted that after we worked together Bryant would get an on-air job at a major network,” Hoffman says. “He grew so much in our time together and I just knew his great work ethic and his depth of knowledge of football would land him an incredible sportscasting position.”

Far-Reaching Benefits Beyond the Workplace

According to McFadden, the single greatest benefit of working with Hoffman was how he became more confident. “When you believe in yourself, you deliver,” he says. “Working with Annie was a great experience for me. I benefitted 110%. I’ve come a long way.”