Could it be the end of an era for The NFL Today on CBS? With the contracts of many longtime figures coming to an end, the broadcasting landscape for NFL on CBS might be set for a massive overhaul.
With replacement rumors swirling around star-personalities including James Brown, Phil Simms, Bill Cowher, and Boomer Esiason, change looks inevitable.
Andrew Marchand earlier this year reported the contracts of James Brown, Phil Simms, Bill Cowher, and Boomer Esiason to be expiring soon.
These four, known as the show’s stalwarts, have been pivotal to the CBS NFL coverage. The newbies, Nate Burleson and J.J. Watt, are still in their early years on the show.
The foursome brings an astounding 83 years of combined experience to their stint on CBS. Simms, who joined back in 1998, served as the network’s top game analyst for two decades before transitioning to the studio in 2016.
Esiason, toddling on 22 years with The NFL Today, has been a consistent presence in the world of sports media.
James Brown has a long-running relationship with CBS, having worked for the network in 80s and 90s, before transitioning to Fox in 1994.
He later returned to CBS in 2006 to lead The NFL Today.
Cowher, who joined CBS in 2007, has been a staple on The NFL Today, constantly dismissing speculation about a return to coaching.
Given the retiring contracts and silence around the stars’ futures, there are indications that CBS might totally revamp its studio coverage next year.
The network, known for being conservative regarding staff changes, made headlines with its reinvented golf coverage, following the departure of Gary McCord and Peter Kostis.
The rumour mill is buzzing with potential new recruits for CBS’s NFL coverage. Names on the list include recent additions to the CBS Sports Network pregame show, Thomas Davis and Kyle Long.
Meanwhile, Richard Sherman, Andrew Whitworth, and Ryan Fitzpatrick have experience working for Amazon.
NFL player Jason Kelce might receive an alluring offer to form the face of the network’s studio coverage, and retired star Drew Brees might even return to give TV another try.
CBS might navigate this watershed moment through several routes. One option could be selecting from the current panel, opting to retain some familiar faces while integrating new ones.
James Brown might extend his tenure for another Super Bowl cycle while introducing a fresh batch of analysts.
Esiason’s daily radio work might also earn him an extended stay due to his constant involvement in the scene.
If change is indeed underway, this Super Bowl might be the last time viewers see many of these long-standing figures together on The NFL Today.
