SEATTLE — Nate Burleson — of Seahawks, NFL and “CBS Mornings” fame — returned June 2 to the halls of O’Dea High School, 24 years after his graduation.

At an afternoon assembly, “Nate spoke to our students about effort and hard work to accomplish your goals and then held an interactive Q&A with our students,” O’Dea said in an Instagram post that included a photo of Burleson, his family and longtime football coach Monte Kohler.

Nate Burleson is seen with his family and longtime O’Dea football coach Monte Kohler after a June 2 assembly at O’Dea. “Nate is unselfish, self-motivated and a great team player,” Kohler said when Burleson was named Seattle’s male high school athlete of the year in 1999. (Courtesy O’Dea High School)

“Thank you Nate, for taking the time to visit us! A true O’Dea gentleman,” the post continued. “We look forward to Nate joining us TOMORROW at our Centennial Marquee Event!”

At the June 3 centennial event, Burleson will be one of six people inducted into the O’Dea Hall of Fame (read more about the inductees at nwcatholic.org/odea).

Above: Nate Burleson speaks to an assembly at O’Dea High school June 2. Below: Students listen intently during the assembly. (Bruce Johnson/Rowland Studio)

In his years at O’Dea, Burleson was a three-sport letterman: football, basketball and track & field. He played football in college, followed by 11 years in the NFL as a wide receiver for the Minnesota Vikings, Seattle Seahawks and Detroit Lions. In 2014 he became an analyst for the NFL Network; in 2016 he was a co-host on Good Morning Football and in 2017 he joined the NFL on CBS as a studio analyst. He has won two Sports Emmy Awards for his work. In 2021, he was named co-anchor of CBS Mornings and this year he co-hosted Nickelodeon’s 2023 Kids’ Choice Awards.

Nate Burleson is being inducted in the O’Dea Hall of Fame June 3 as part of the school’s centennial events. (Bruce Johnson/Rowland Studio)

During his broadcasting career, school officials said, Burleson has participated in various virtual O’Dea events and maintained relationships with his former O’Dea teachers, coaches and classmates. They added that Burleson represents the O’Dea hallmarks of character, faith and service.