He played college football for the Idaho State Bengals and was selected by the Steelers in the 10th round of the 1987 NFL draft.
Hoge, along with fellow longtime NFL Matchup analyst Ron Jaworski, were laid off after wide ESPN cuts in April 2017.
[1][2] Born and raised in Pocatello, Idaho, Hoge graduated from its Highland High School in 1983.
He stayed in town to play college football for Idaho State University in the Big Sky Conference,[3] and was a three-time all-conference selection (1984–86) at running back for the Bengals.
[6][7] After seven seasons with the Steelers, Hoge signed with the Chicago Bears in 1994, but played in only five games with six carries and 13 receptions.
[14] Hoge injured his shoulder in an automobile accident in June 2002 and had an operation to repair a torn ligament.
During an examination six months after surgery, Hoge told his doctor, Jim Bradley, also the Steelers' team physician, about a recurring back pain.
[15]Soon after treatment began, Stanley Marks, Hoge's oncologist at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, gave him a 75-80% chance of prolonged remission.
[15] On October 31, 2015, one month after he had surgery to repair an enlarged aorta, Merril Hoge returned at work at ESPN on NFL Matchup.
Fellow retired NFL player, Cris Collinsworth, also calls Fort Thomas home.