“Outchef’d” host and NFL alum Eddie Jackson has signed a new exclusive deal with Food Network.
Along with “Outchef’d,” which will debut its third season this spring, Jackson also stars on the Warner Bros. Discovery cable channel’s “Christmas cookie Challenge,” alongside “Pioneer Woman” Ree Drummond, and “Yum and Yummer,” and is regularly featured on “Beat Bobby Flay,” “Chopped” and “Supermarket Stakeout.”
In December, the latest season of “Christmas cookie Challenge” reached more than 11.4 million total viewers and made Food Network the second-most-watched cable network among woman ages 25-54 during the show’s timeslot. The second season of Jackson’s “Outchef’d” drew more than 10.1 million viewers and saw a 14% jump in ratings over its first season.
Financial details of the new pact between Food Network and Jackson were not disclosed.
“Eddie is a Food Network mainstay, and we love his energy, humor and talent – if he is on-set, you know it’s going to be a great day,” Betsy Ayala, head of food content at Warner Bros. Discovery, said. “His background in sports and competitive nature translate perfectly into our programming and we look forward to many more projects together.”
“Food Network has been my home since 2015 and I am so excited for what’s to come,” Jackson said. “Stay tuned!”
Prior to joining Food Network, Jackson was a college football All-American at the University of Arkansas and played in the NFL for the Carolina Panthers, Miami Dolphins and New England Patriots. He retired from the NFL in 2009 and went on to open up a Caribbean grill food truck in Miami and later a food truck, personal training business and beer garden in Houston where he currently lives.
In 2015, he won “Food Network Star” and began his ongoing career at the network.
