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Matt Hasselbeck: From Colts QB to ESPN analyst

Posted at 7:32 AM, Dec 06, 2016
and last updated 2016-12-06 08:13:59-05

INDIANAPOLIS -- The Monday Night Football music is familiar (dun-dun-dun-dun), and for fans in Indianapolis, so is a new face on the ESPN show.

Former Colts quarterback Matt Hasselbeck was added to the cast of Monday Night Countdown in the offseason.

"It's actually a little more difficult than I think players think," Hasselbeck said. "I just remember being a player and my teammates or even myself would get offended like 'What? What did he just say?' And get mad at a guy. I know now, I get like 20 seconds to say something."

Senior producer Seth Markman said Hasselbeck was always somebody they knew they would target after he retired from the NFL.

PHOTO GALLERY | Matt Hasselbeck's Indianapolis house

Hasselbeck and Trent Dilfer, also a personality on the pregame show, are teammates again.

They played quarterback together on the Seattle Seahawks from 2001-04.

"He always has to call me and check on what color suit I'm wearing," Dilfer said. "Only I can have facial hair. If we didn't have that agreement, this thing could go down really quick."

Because they look a little similar, when Dilfer says something that offends somebody, Hasselbeck gets his hateful tweets.

"All bald, white guys look a little the same to most of America," Hasselbeck said. "It's like 'You sucked in Baltimore!' First of all, watch your language. Secondly, I never played in Baltimore. That was Dilfer."

Hasselbeck did play three seasons in Indianapolis.

His 2015 season with the Colts helped decide his future. Playing for an injured Andrew Luck, Hasselbeck suffered a number of injuries in 2015.

Hasselbeck hurt his ribs, jaw and neck. 

If all those injuries hadn't happened, would Hasselbeck be on a team somewhere?

"I've thought about that a few times," he said. "You can push through some things even though you think you can't."

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Playing through all the injuries, Hasselbeck showed Indianapolis who he is.

"Stupid?" Hasselbeck joked. "I'm very, very thankful for [Colts fans'] tip of the cap. Like 'That was ugly out there, but man, wow.'"