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The NFL Today
Also known asPro Football Kickoff (1961–1962)
NFL Kickoff (1962–1964)
The NFL Report (1964)
The NFL Today (1964–1974; 1975–1994; 1998–present)
The NFL on CBS (September–December 1974)
GenrePre-game show
Directed byBob Matina
Presented byJames Brown
Bill Cowher
Nate Burleson
Matt Ryan
Jonathan Jones
Adam Schein
Opening themeSee NFL on CBS music
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons58 (through 2025 season)[1]
Production
ProducerDrew Kaliski
Production locationsSean McManus Studio 43, CBS Broadcast Center, New York, New York
Camera setupMulti-camera
Running time15 minutes (1961–1967)
24 minutes (1967–1993)
60 minutes (1998–present)
Production companyCBS Sports
Original release
NetworkCBS
ReleaseSeptember 17, 1961 (1961-09-17) –
January 23, 1994 (1994-01-23)
ReleaseSeptember 6, 1998 (1998-09-06) –
present
Related
NFL on CBS

The NFL Today is an American football television program on CBS that serves as the pre-game show for the network's National Football League (NFL) game telecasts under the NFL on CBS brand. The program features commentary on the latest news around the NFL from its hosts and studio analysts, as well as predictions for the day's games and interviews with players and coaches. Originally debuting as Pro Football Kickoff on September 15, 1961, the program airs before all NFL games broadcast by CBS (usually on Sundays at 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time Zone), and generally runs for one hour (except for Thanksgiving and during the postseason when it is generally 30 minutes). The program's commentators also provide commentary during game updates, the halftime reports, and the postgame show on the NFL on CBS broadcasts at the conclusion of single early games and, if time permits, late games.

Since 2025, the crew consists of longtime sportscaster James Brown, who has served as the host of The NFL Today since 2006; former Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Bill Cowher; former Seattle Seahawks, Minnesota Vikings, and Detroit Lions wide receiver Nate Burleson; and former Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan serving as analysts.

The NFL Today broadcasts from Sean McManus Studio 43 at the CBS Broadcast Center in New York City; however, the program will occasionally broadcast from the game site of a high-profile regular season game, the AFC Championship Game, and the Super Bowl. The pregame telecast of the Super Bowl has sometimes been branded as The NFL Today at the Super Bowl, formerly The Super Bowl Today.

From 2014 to 2017, CBS partnered with the NFL Network to air selected Thursday Night Football games; the NFL GameDay crew has appeared in segments on The NFL Today for both Thursdays and Sundays (and Saturdays when applicable).

Broadcast history

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Dawn of the pregame format (1961–1974)

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The program began on September 15, 1961, when CBS debuted the first remote 15-minute pre-game show, the first of its kind on network sports television. Originally titled Pro Football Kickoff,[2] hosted by Johnny Lujack, the program originated from NFL stadiums around the country with a comprehensive look at the day's games. This show was succeeded in 1962 and 1963 by NFL Kickoff, with Kyle Rote serving as its host.

On September 13, 1964, Frank Gifford began hosting the renamed NFL Report, which was subsequently retitled The NFL Today later that season. This version of The NFL Today[3] was a 15-minute, regional sports program that presented interviews with NFL players and coaches, and news and features about the league. In 1967, The NFL Today expanded to a 30-minute format preceding game coverage.

On September 20, 1970, The NFL Today signed industry-pioneering women: Marjorie Margolies (later elected to Congress from Pennsylvania in 1992) produced and reported features, and actress Carole Howey, who also reported for the program.

In 1971, Jack Whitaker and Pat Summerall took over hosting duties on the program from Gifford, who left CBS to call play-by-play on ABC's Monday Night Football. In 1973, The NFL Today began originating from CBS' New York City studios; the program also began to include reports from stadiums around the country, although it continued to be pre-recorded before each week's game day.

For 1974, CBS abandoned the pre-recorded NFL Today broadcast and its short-form wrap-up show, Pro Football Report, for a live, wraparound style program titled The NFL on CBS.[4] It started a half-hour prior to kickoff of either the singleheader or doubleheader telecast (12:30, 1:30, or 3:30 p.m. Eastern). On September 15, the revamped program debuted with a new three-segment format: the first featured highlights of the day's games and commentary, special features shot during the week were broadcast during the second segment, and the third covered the day's sports news, including scores and highlights at halftime. The program's hosts were Whitaker (who was brought into the studio after quite a few years serving as a play-by-play announcer for the network's NFL broadcasts) and Lee Leonard.[4]

The program broke ground in a number of ways: it was the first live pre-game show, the first to show halftime highlights of other games televised by CBS, and the first to wrap up as a post-game show. CBS also began referring its stadium studios or its pre-game set, previously known as "CBS Control," as the "CBS Sports Center". The program also no longer featured a third member of the on-air crew stationed at CBS Control to provide scores, halftime information and – time permitting – post-game interviews, a position often held by Dick Stockton during his early days at the network.

Musburger, George and Cross (1975–1989)

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The program reinstated its previous NFL Today title on the September 21, 1975, broadcast, with former WBBM-TV and KCBS-TV sportscaster/anchorman Brent Musburger (previously a play-by-play announcer for CBS) serving as host, former NFL player Irv Cross as an analyst, and former Miss America Phyllis George as one of the reporters. That year, the program won 13 Emmy Awards. Sports bookie Jimmy Snyder, nicknamed "The Greek," joined the program in 1976. Jack Whitaker also contributed to the program as an occasional reporter and essayist during this period. It was during this period that The NFL Today began an 18-year run as the highest-rated program in its time slot, lasting until the network lost the broadcast rights to Fox in 1994, the longest consecutive run for a television program in a consistent time slot.

By this time, the program began the complex process of producing three separate live pre-game, halftime and postgame programs for 1:00 p.m., 2:00 p.m. (through 1981) and 4:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) games. Also for the first time, signature musical pieces are produced for NFL coverage. The show's signature theme was "Horizontal Hold," a piece by Jan Stoeckart (recorded under his pseudonym of Jack Trombey). The NFL Today was among the recipients of the Sports Emmy Awards in its inaugural event in 1979.

Phyllis George was replaced by former Miss Ohio USA Jayne Kennedy beginning with the 1978 NFL season, before George returned to the program for the 1980 NFL season. George was replaced on the program by Charlsie Cantey midway into the 1983 NFL season, after going on parental leave, with George ultimately departing the program outright.[5] Jimmy Snyder was dismissed by CBS Sports on January 16, 1988, one day after making comments about racial differences among NFL players on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Musburger announced Snyder's dismissal on The NFL Today prior to the Minnesota Vikings-Washington Redskins NFC Championship Game the next day. Snyder's slot on The NFL Today would subsequently be filled by Dick Butkus for the next two seasons.

Gumbel and Bradshaw (1990–1993)

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After the 1989 NFL season, Musburger was abruptly fired on April 1, 1990, following a power shift at CBS (he later resurfaced at ABC), while Cross was demoted to the position of game analyst.[6] They were replaced by former ESPN football analyst and WFAN morning host Greg Gumbel (brother of then-Today co-host Bryant Gumbel), legendary former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Terry Bradshaw and longtime sportswriter Lesley Visser, bringing a female reporter back to The NFL Today for the first time since Super Bowl XVIII.

On December 18, 1993, the NFL awarded Fox a four-year contract (worth $1.58 billion) for the broadcast television rights to the National Football Conference (NFC), allowing that network to carry regular season and playoff games from the conference starting with the 1994 NFL season (which it continues to this day). The deal stripped CBS of NFL telecasts following the 1993 NFL season after 38 years;[7][8] as a result, The NFL Today ended its original run and CBS aired its final NFC telecast on January 23, 1994.

After CBS lost the NFL rights, Greg Gumbel went to NBC Sports, Terry Bradshaw left to become an analyst for Fox's new pre-game show Fox NFL Sunday and Lesley Visser joined ABC as a sideline reporter for Monday Night Football; Gumbel and Visser eventually returned to CBS.

CBS reacquires rights (1998–present)

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The NFL Today made its return to CBS in 1998, after the network signed a contract with the NFL to acquire the broadcast rights to televise games from the American Football Conference (AFC) effective with that year's NFL season, taking over the rights from NBC.[9]

Under Jim Nantz (1998–2003)

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In the months before CBS began its AFC broadcast contract, former NFL Today host Greg Gumbel rejoined CBS from NBC to serve as the lead play-by-play announcer for the NFL game; while Jim Nantz was named as the studio host for The NFL Today (incidentally, during the 1993 season, Nantz filled in for predecessor Gumbel on the program, as the latter was helming the broadcast team for CBS' coverage of the American League Championship Series alongside Jim Kaat). Newcomer Bonnie Bernstein joined CBS as a reporter for The NFL Today, before being moved to a sideline reporting role for the 1999 NFL season. Bernstein eventually returned to the show in 2004, before leaving again in 2005.

The NFL Today returned on September 6, 1998, 1,687 days since the program's last broadcast under the previous NFL contract, with Nantz welcoming back viewers to CBS for its coverage of the NFL. In addition to Nantz as host, the relaunched program's original lineup of studio analysts consisted of Marcus Allen, Brent Jones and George Seifert. Seifert was let go during the season, while Allen and Jones were not retained. Craig James (a former studio analyst for CBS' SEC on CBS pre-game show), Randy Cross (a former color commentator for CBS and NBC) and Jerry Glanville (a former analyst for Fox NFL Sunday) were brought in to replace Allen, Jones, and Seifert alongside Nantz on the pre-game show the next season. As a prelude, James and Cross joined Nantz, Jones, and Allen for the pregame show before the AFC Championship Game during the previous season.

During this time, the program introduced new segments such as Chalk Talk (in which commentators and program guests discuss team strategies), and Outside the Huddle (featuring commentary mocking about people around the NFL provided by PUNT TV pregame host "Thurston Long," a computer-animated character.)[10] Outside the Huddle was later dropped after Viacom decided to split into two companies – CBS Corporation (a restructuring of the original Viacom, which retained CBS, among other assets that included Showtime Networks and UPN) and a new company with the Viacom name (which acquired assets including Paramount Pictures and MTV Networks).

Lesley Visser returned to CBS Sports/The NFL Today for the 2000 NFL season after a six-year hiatus, serving as a feature reporter for the program. Visser left The NFL Today in 2004 to work as the lead reporter for top NFL games. She returned to the program two years later in 2006. Also during the 2000 season, former Chicago Bears and New Orleans Saints coach Mike Ditka joined the program as an analyst; Deion Sanders was added as an analyst in 2001.

The NFL Today outdoor set, November 2001. Jim Nantz, Mike Ditka, and Randy Cross are the visible hosts.

For the 2000 NFL season, the program moved part-time from the CBS Broadcast Center to a new outdoor studio on the site of the General Motors Building, on Fifth Avenue and 59th Street in Manhattan.[11] The set, which was used during the fall, was set up on Sunday mornings at a plaza in the area near the building that later became the glass structure of the Apple Fifth Avenue store,[12] next to the southeast corner of Central Park. During the winter, The NFL Today was broadcast indoors from Studio 43 at the CBS Broadcast Center.[13]

The program was rebooted again after the 2001 season with Dan Marino and Boomer Esiason joining Nantz and Sanders. Sanders left the broadcast team after Super Bowl XXXVIII to return to the NFL, playing for the Baltimore Ravens until 2004. Nantz followed shortly thereafter, being promoted to lead play-by-play broadcaster.

At the start of the 2003 NFL season, CBS Sports introduced Posthumus Zone as the new theme music for The NFL Today and for the network's NFL game telecasts. The song was composed by Los Angeles electronica group E.S. Posthumus, so named because it composes songs that have no-longer-existing ancient cities as a motif. In 2006, Posthumus Zone and a remixed version titled Rise to Glory were included as tracks on the group's second CD release, Rise to Glory. The song Rise to Glory was also featured on The NFL Today and on CBS' NFL broadcasts during the 2005 NFL season.

Second tenure of Greg Gumbel (2004–2005)

[edit]

With Nantz moving to the lead broadcast team alongside Phil Simms, Gumbel returned to the studio to replace him on The NFL Today. Shannon Sharpe also joined the team to replace Sanders as an analyst. Sharpe's critics said that his broadcasting skills were hurt by his poor grammar and enunciation of words (Sharpe has a very noticeable lisp and drawl). This was parodied in a satire article in The Onion with the headline, "CBS Producers Ask Shannon Sharpe To Use At Least 3 Real Words Per Sentence."[14]

The outdoor set was abandoned for the 2005 NFL season, with The NFL Today broadcasting from Studio 43 for the entire season. The following season (2006 NFL season), The NFL Today began broadcasting in high-definition television; the program introduced a new HD-ready set at Studio 43 with the conversion.

Under James Brown (2006–present)

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The NFL Today at Super Bowl XLI.

On February 6, 2006, CBS Sports announced the return of James Brown, who left CBS eleven years earlier to become studio host of Fox NFL Sunday, to the network as the host of The NFL Today beginning with the 2006 NFL season. Greg Gumbel moved back to play-by-play duties, teaming with Dan Dierdorf as part of its secondary announcing team, replacing Dick Enberg.

Lesley Visser returned to The NFL Today after a two-year hiatus in her previous role as feature reporter, a position she continues to hold to this day; meanwhile, Bonnie Bernstein left the network to pursue other broadcasting opportunities. Aside from Visser returning to the show, Sam Ryan joined CBS Sports in June 2006, as a reporter for The NFL Today; Ryan left the network after the 2010 NFL season. In 2007, CBS added a fifth member to its studio analyst table by adding then-recently retired head coach Bill Cowher.

In 2012, following the murder-suicide of Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Jovan Belcher and his girlfriend, Brown digressed on the program about the role that men needed to take in the fight against domestic violence. He accused the league's players of letting the NFL's reputation on domestic violence go unchanged.

Beginning with the 2013 NFL season, The NFL Today, along with all other CBS Sports presentations, switched to a 16x9 widescreen presentation that extended or placed graphics outside of the 4:3 safe area, with the network requiring cable television providers to use the #10 Active Format Description tag to present the broadcasts in a letterboxing format for viewers watching a CBS station's standard-definition television feed.

On February 18, 2014, CBS Sports announced that Sharpe and Marino were being relieved of their duties as on-air commentators, to be replaced by Tony Gonzalez and Bart Scott.[15]

On February 5, 2014, the NFL announced that a deal with CBS to broadcast Thursday night games during the first eight weeks of the NFL season games beginning the 2014 NFL season in simulcast with NFL Network, with the remainder airing on NFL Network exclusively.[16][17] With the addition of the package, CBS announced an additional NFL Today broadcast for the games, to be broadcast from the site of each week's game; with Brown and Cowher to be featured on both the Thursday and Sunday broadcasts, Deion Sanders returning to the program as an analyst for the Thursday editions, and while Esiason, Gonzalez and Scott remaining on the Sunday broadcasts.

During the first Thursday edition of The NFL Today on September 11, 2014, in the wake of the domestic violence controversy involving Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice, Brown spoke via satellite to CBS News anchor Scott Pelley and spoke face-to-face with CBS News correspondent Norah O'Donnell, who had interviewed NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell days before. Baltimore Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti also appeared in a taped interview with Brown. During the pre-game, Brown updated his 2012 digression about domestic violence, wondering why in the two years since his initial commentary, that nothing had been done to change the problem, and how the problem had actually become worse.

Scott and Gonzalez both left The NFL Today prior to the 2017 season, with Gonzalez switching networks to join Fox's pregame coverage. Phil Simms, who had been demoted from CBS's lead color commentator position when the network hired Tony Romo for that post, and Nate Burleson, who comes over from NFL Network, replaced Scott and Gonzalez.

In the 2023 season, former defensive end J. J. Watt joined The NFL Today as an analyst.[18] In 2024, former quarterback Matt Ryan also joined the program. Esiason and Simms departed the network as their contracts expired at the end of the 2023 season.[19]

For the 2025 season, Watt departed The NFL Today to become a CBS color commentator, while Adam Schein took over as anchor for in-game updates that had previously been handled by The NFL Today analysts.[20][21] The show premiered a two-hour digital extension, The NFL Today+, which is streamed on CBS Sports' digital platforms (including CBS Sports HQ, YouTube, and Paramount+) at 10 a.m. ET prior to the main program at 12:00 p.m.[22] After a trial for two regular season games in the 2024 season, CBS also announced that The NFL Today would broadcast on-site from selected regular season games throughout the season.[20]

On September 21, 2025, The NFL Today broadcast a special edition to mark its 50th anniversary, which featured a 1970's throwback theme and tributes to the program's history. Brent Musburger also made a one-off return as a guest panelist.[23][24][25]

Super Bowl editions

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Further information: List of Super Bowl broadcasters

The NFL Today at the Super Bowl, previously known as The Super Bowl Today,[26][27] is the edition of The NFL Today that precedes the Super Bowl during years when CBS has the rights to broadcast the game. The show is generally broadcast from the site of that year's game; in Super Bowl LVIII's case, for example, the show originated from the Las Vegas Strip, in addition to the on-site set at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, NV.

On-air staff

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Studio hosts and analysts

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Main article: List of NFL Today personalities

See also

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References

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[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

The NFL Today

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
The NFL Today is a weekly American television program produced by , serving as the pregame show for the network's () broadcasts, featuring host-led discussions, game predictions, analyst insights, and highlights. Debuting in its modern on September 21, 1975, it pioneered the live studio pregame show, delivering nationwide coverage of NFL Sunday action from a central studio with remote feeds, fundamentally shaping the structure of sports pregame programming. The original on-air team consisted of host , former NFL player as the first Black regular analyst on a major sports network show, and , the first woman to serve as a regular co-host in sports broadcasting, whose inclusion broke gender barriers in a male-dominated field. Over the decades, the program incorporated figures like oddsmaker Jimmy "The Greek" Snyder, whose 1988 firing by followed comments attributing Black athletes' physical advantages to during —a statement that sparked widespread outrage and highlighted tensions over in public discourse. Hosted by since 2006 alongside analysts such as , , and Matt Ryan as of 2025, The NFL Today marked its 50th anniversary that year, underscoring its enduring influence through innovations in live production, personality-driven content, and integration of betting elements that predated widespread legalization of sports wagering. The show's format emphasized bold experimentation, from early technical challenges with cross-country links to establishing the template for analytical pregame segments that competitors later adopted, cementing its role in elevating viewership and broadcasting standards.

Broadcast History

Inception as Pro Football Kickoff (1961–1974)

introduced Pro Football Kickoff on September 17, 1961, as the network's inaugural remote pre-game program for broadcasts, marking the first such 15-minute show in U.S. network sports television history. Hosted by , the program provided brief previews and analysis ahead of Sunday afternoon games, aligning with growing coverage of the league after acquiring rights to televise select contests starting in 1956. This format emerged amid the 's expansion from 12 to 14 teams and increasing television interest, though viewership was limited by blackouts in home markets and competition from NBC's AFL coverage. The show continued under Schenkel's hosting through the early 1960s, evolving slightly in name to NFL Kickoff by 1962 while maintaining its concise structure to build anticipation for CBS's game telecasts. By 1964, amid a new two-year, $28.2 million CBS-NFL contract that expanded coverage to include more teams and doubleheaders, the pre-game segment rebranded as The NFL Today, still anchored by Schenkel for its ninth season. , a former star and emerging broadcaster, assumed hosting duties in 1965, coinciding with the NFL's merger talks with the AFL and the introduction of color broadcasts for most games. Gifford's tenure emphasized player insights and game predictions, reflecting the era's focus on star-driven narratives as the league grew to 16 teams post-merger in 1966. Throughout the late 1960s, The NFL Today under Gifford adapted to logistical challenges, such as producing from mobile trucks for playoff coverage and integrating commentary from reduced crews amid CBS's nationwide feeds. The program remained a staple 15- to 30-minute lead-in, prioritizing efficiency over elaborate studio production, as remote origination dominated due to technological limits and cost considerations. By 1970, with the AFL-NFL merger fully realized and the league rebranded as the with 26 teams, the show incorporated more expansive previews, though it stayed rooted in Schenkel- and Gifford-era simplicity. In 1974, CBS transitioned to a wraparound format under The NFL on CBS banner, featuring live pre- and post-game segments hosted by Jack Whitaker, which built on Kickoff's legacy by extending runtime and incorporating halftime updates. This evolution addressed rising viewer demand for comprehensive analysis amid the league's popularity surge, with drawing 28.1 million viewers earlier that year, yet retained the foundational remote-preview model established in 1961. The period's innovations, including early adoption of color TV and national syndication, laid groundwork for more dynamic studio shows, though constrained by era-specific broadcast standards like no instant replay until the late 1960s.

The Trailblazing Studio Era (1975–1989)

In 1975, CBS Sports launched the modern iteration of The NFL Today on September 21, debuting as the first live, multi-hour national pregame studio show for NFL broadcasts, originating from a New York studio and featuring a team of hosts that set new standards for sports television production. Anchored by Brent Musburger, the program included former Philadelphia Eagles defensive back Irv Cross as the primary analyst providing player and strategy insights, and Phyllis George, the 1971 Miss America winner, as co-host and feature reporter—marking her as the first woman to break into regular roles in major sports broadcasting. This format shifted from prior pre-taped segments to dynamic live discussions, game previews, and highlights integration, influencing subsequent pregame shows across networks by emphasizing personality-driven analysis over rote summaries. The addition of Jimmy "The Greek" Snyder in 1976 further distinguished the program, as the veteran oddsmaker delivered betting lines, probability assessments, and bold predictions rooted in his decades of handicapping experience, injecting entertainment value while popularizing quantitative angles on game outcomes for a broad audience. Snyder's segments, often delivered with theatrical flair, complemented Cross's tactical breakdowns and Musburger's hosting, creating a balanced ensemble that boosted viewer engagement; the show routinely drew millions weekly, contributing to CBS's dominant NFL ratings share during an era when the network held primary broadcast rights. George's role evolved to include on-location reporting and interviews, earning her two for outstanding studio host between 1975 and 1978, though she departed after the 1978 season for family commitments before returning in 1980. Subsequent personnel tweaks sustained the show's momentum, with model and actress joining as a co-host in 1978 to replace George temporarily, becoming the third woman on the cast and expanding the program's appeal through glamour-infused features alongside substantive content. By the mid-1980s, the format had solidified elements like rapid-fire predictions, historical comparisons, and early adoption of graphics for visualizations, overcoming initial technical hurdles such as live feed delays to pioneer scalable studio production for weekly sports programming. This era's innovations—driven by Ed Gignill's vision for a "total football experience"—elevated pregame analysis from ancillary to central, fostering viewer loyalty amid growing popularity, with the cast's chemistry enduring until Musburger's planned exit loomed in 1990.

Final Pre-Hiatus Years (1990–1993)

In 1990, following the abrupt dismissal of longtime host on April 1 amid internal restructuring, assumed the role of studio host for The NFL Today, marking a shift toward a more straightforward analytical format. joined as a prominent studio analyst, bringing his perspective as a four-time champion with the , while contributed as a sideline reporter and occasional contributor, emphasizing on-site reporting from game venues. This lineup debuted for the opener on September 9, providing previews, injury updates, and predictions for CBS's NFC-focused telecasts. The program maintained its core structure of approximately 30-minute pregame segments, featuring panel discussions on matchup strategies, player performances, and betting lines—though without the overt oddsmaking of prior eras—alongside highlight reels from prior weeks and live inserts from team facilities. Gumbel and Bradshaw's dynamic, with Bradshaw's candid insights contrasting Gumbel's measured delivery, covered pivotal seasons including the 1990 on January 20, 1991, where they previewed the ' upset over the , and the 1991 interview with post his return from injury on November 3. Analysts occasionally included former players like for depth on coaching tactics, but the focus remained on rapid-fire predictions and statistical breakdowns, such as Bradshaw's accurate foresight on the ' rise in 1992. Viewership during these years averaged around 5-7 million for Sunday pregames, buoyed by high-profile NFC rivalries, but underlying network challenges emerged, including stagnant ad revenue growth compared to competitors. The 1992 and 1993 seasons highlighted labor tensions, with the program addressing the NFL Players Association strike's aftermath in 1992 and free agency impacts, as Gumbel moderated debates on salary caps during the October 10, 1993, edition. Halftime updates, like the December 26, 1993, broadcast, integrated real-time score tickers and analyst reactions to unfolding games, maintaining viewer engagement amid CBS's coverage of 16 NFC regular-season contests per week. The era concluded abruptly after the January 23, 1994, NFC Divisional playoff telecast of the over the , as lost its NFC broadcast rights to in a December 17, 1993, announcement where Fox's $1.6 billion four-year bid outpaced CBS's offer, ending the network's 38-year partnership and suspending The NFL Today until 1998. This rights forfeiture stemmed from CBS's underestimation of bidding competition, exacerbated by prior ratings dips in non-prime matchups, leading to personnel dispersal: Gumbel to , Bradshaw to Fox, and Visser to broader CBS roles. The hiatus reflected broader TV upheavals, with the show's final run preserving its legacy of pioneering live pregame analysis despite the commercial fallout.

Revival with AFC Broadcast Rights (1998–present)

CBS secured the American Football Conference (AFC) broadcast rights beginning with the 1998 NFL season, outbidding NBC in a contract valued at approximately $4 billion over eight years. This acquisition ended a four-year absence of NFL programming on the network and prompted the revival of The NFL Today, the pregame studio show that had last aired in 1993. The program returned on September 6, 1998, anchored by Jim Nantz and expanded to a one-hour format to provide comprehensive previews, analysis, and news ahead of AFC games. Initial studio analysts included former San Francisco 49ers coach and tight end , alongside contributions from ex-players like and , aiming to blend coaching insight with player perspectives. However, Seifert's tenure ended prematurely after a few weeks due to underwhelming on-air performance, highlighting early challenges in assembling a cohesive team. Despite such adjustments, the show established itself as CBS's flagship studio production, incorporating segments on game predictions, injury updates, and highlight recaps. Over the subsequent decades, The NFL Today evolved through multiple personnel shifts to sustain relevance amid competitive pregame programming from networks like and . Nantz hosted through 2003, followed by brief stints from (2004–2005) and (2006–present), with analysts rotating to include former players and coaches such as , , and . In April 2024, CBS refreshed the lineup by adding retired quarterback Matt Ryan while parting ways with Esiason and Simms, reflecting ongoing efforts to inject fresh voices and expertise. The program marked its 50th anniversary during the 2025 season with retrospective elements, underscoring its enduring format innovations from the 1970s while adapting to modern production techniques like enhanced graphics and remote field reporting. Throughout this era, The NFL Today has prioritized data-driven breakdowns and insider analysis, contributing to CBS's AFC coverage that consistently ranks among the highest-rated broadcasts.

Jim Nantz as Anchor (1998–2003)

CBS revived The NFL Today in 1998 following the network's reacquisition of American Football Conference broadcast rights, with Jim Nantz serving as studio anchor through the 2003 NFL season. Nantz, who had previously handled NFL play-by-play duties for CBS from 1988 to 1993, hosted the pregame program that provided analysis, predictions, and highlights ahead of AFC contests, marking the show's return after a four-year absence since the loss of NFL rights in 1993. The program aired from the CBS Broadcast Center in New York, competing directly with Fox's NFL Sunday and ESPN's NFL Countdown. During Nantz's tenure, the studio featured a rotation of analysts drawn from former NFL players and coaches, including Hall of Famer , tight end , and head coach in the inaugural 1998 season. joined as a studio analyst starting in 2000 after his dismissal as head coach, contributing through the 2001 season with his outspoken commentary on team strategies and player performances. Other contributors included and Craig James, offering breakdowns of matchups and injury updates. Nantz also hosted Super Bowl pregame coverage during this period, including in 2001. Nantz departed the anchor role after the 2003 season to assume CBS's lead play-by-play position for games, partnering with analyst beginning in 2004. This transition aligned with CBS's emphasis on elevating Nantz's on-field presence amid growing network investment in production, which had generated an "electric" internal atmosphere upon the rights reclamation. His six-year stint as host helped reestablish The NFL Today as a key component of CBS's programming slate.

Greg Gumbel's Second Run (2004–2005)

In June 2004, CBS Sports announced that Greg Gumbel would return as host of The NFL Today, swapping roles with incumbent host Jim Nantz, who shifted to the network's lead play-by-play position alongside analyst Phil Simms. This exchange positioned Gumbel, who had hosted the program from 1990 to 1993 prior to CBS losing NFL broadcast rights, back in the studio for the 2004 NFL season. The move aimed to leverage Gumbel's prior studio experience amid CBS's ongoing AFC coverage since regaining rights in 1998. Gumbel's second tenure spanned the 2004 and 2005 seasons, during which the pregame show maintained its format of previewing AFC matchups, providing analysis, and featuring interviews. The studio panel consisted of analysts , , and , a trio of former quarterbacks and players offering insights into game strategies and player performances. This lineup contributed to segments on key topics such as divisional races and playoff implications, with the show airing weekly before CBS's AFC doubleheaders. Following the 2005 season, Gumbel was replaced as host by and transitioned back to play-by-play duties, partnering with for AFC games from 2006 to 2013. No official rationale for the change was detailed by at the time, though it aligned with network adjustments in broadcasting assignments.

James Brown Era and 50th Anniversary (2006–present)

was announced as the new host of The NFL Today on February 6, 2006, transitioning from his role on to lead CBS's pregame program amid the network's AFC broadcast rights revival. Under Brown's stewardship, the show maintained strong viewership and adapted to personnel shifts, with joining as an analyst in 2007 following his retirement from coaching the . Key additions included in 2017 and in 2022, contributing to a mix of former players and coaches providing breakdowns. In April 2024, restructured the analyst lineup, parting ways with longtime contributors and after 24 and 23 years respectively, while retaining , Cowher, Burleson, and Watt; Matt Ryan was added as a rookie analyst post his 2023 retirement from the . For the 2025 season, Watt shifted to a game analyst role alongside play-by-play announcers, leaving the studio crew as , Cowher, Burleson, and Ryan. , approaching his 20th year as host at age 74, entered contract extension talks in July 2025, signaling continuity for the program he has anchored through evolving formats and NFL landscape changes. The era culminated in the show's 50th anniversary celebration on September 21, 2025, during Week 3 of the season, featuring a throwback broadcast with 1975-inspired graphics, music, and virtual set recreations to honor the program's debut. The special included discussions with original contributors like and Harold Bryant alongside Brown, recapping the 1975 season's highlights such as the ' dynasty and the ' playoff run. This milestone underscored The NFL Today's enduring role as a pioneering live pregame format, with Brown's tenure bridging its historical roots to modern production standards.

Program Format and Elements

Core Pregame Segments

The core pregame segments of The NFL Today revolve around delivering structured, information-dense content to equip viewers with actionable insights ahead of CBS's NFL broadcasts, typically airing Sundays from 12:00 PM ET for approximately one hour. The opening segment features the host, currently James Brown, recapping major league headlines and setting the agenda for the day's slate of games, often incorporating live updates from early international or Thursday/Saturday contests if applicable. This is followed by a dedicated news roundup, emphasizing real-time developments such as player injuries, coaching decisions, and rule interpretations, drawn from official NFL sources and verified reports to inform betting lines and fantasy decisions. Key matchup previews constitute a foundational segment, where analysts dissect statistical trends, schematic advantages, and personnel matchups using telestration tools and visualizations, such as expected points added metrics and personnel groupings from the prior week. For instance, in high-profile weeks, segments highlight divisional rivalries or playoff implications, citing advanced like success rates on third downs or red-zone efficiency. Live field reports from game sites, including sideline interviews with participants, integrate periodically to provide on-the-ground context, such as weather impacts or team morale, enhancing the segment's immediacy. Graphics and multimedia elements underpin these segments, with on-screen displays of power rankings, historical head-to-head records, and probabilistic win models to substantiate claims—e.g., a team's 65% win probability in a home matchup based on home-field advantage data from the past five seasons. Transitions between segments maintain momentum, avoiding filler by prioritizing empirical evidence over speculation, though panel debates occasionally arise from conflicting data interpretations. This format, refined over decades, prioritizes causal factors like roster health and coaching schemes over narrative-driven hype, aligning with the show's role as a precursor to doubleheader coverage starting at 1:00 PM ET.

Analyst Breakdowns and Predictions

The Analyst Breakdowns and Predictions segment on The NFL Today involves studio analysts dissecting key statistical trends, matchup advantages, and strategic elements for the day's NFL slate, drawing on their professional backgrounds to inform viewer expectations. For instance, former Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Bill Cowher frequently emphasizes defensive schemes and clock management, as seen in his analysis of run-heavy offenses against zone defenses during Week 1 previews in September 2025. Similarly, retired quarterback Matt Ryan, who joined the analyst team in 2024, provides quarterback-specific insights, such as pocket presence and read progressions, exemplified in his breakdown of Aaron Rodgers' performance potential against divisional rivals in October 2025 segments. These breakdowns integrate recent performance data, including yards per carry, third-down conversion rates, and turnover differentials, often visualized through on-screen graphics for clarity. Analysts cross-reference empirical metrics from sources like Pro Football Reference, avoiding unsubstantiated narratives; for example, in a Week 8 2025 preview, highlighted receiver separation metrics to predict outcomes in pass-heavy games, citing specific route-running efficiencies above league averages of 2.5 yards. This approach prioritizes causal factors like injury impacts—such as quarterback absences reducing win probabilities by an average of 15% based on historical data—over speculative hype. Predictions follow the breakdowns, with each analyst offering score forecasts or against-the-spread selections for major games, typically presented in a roundtable format to highlight consensus or divergences. In the September 19, 2025, episode marking the show's 50th anniversary, analysts collectively predicted outcomes for eight games, with Cowher favoring underdogs in 40% of cases based on coaching familiarity, while Ryan leaned toward totals over in high-scoring AFC matchups averaging 48.2 points. These picks are not framed as infallible but as informed projections, occasionally benchmarked against betting lines from sources like Vegas , where historical analyst accuracy hovers around 52-55% straight-up for experts over multi-season samples. Disagreements, such as on Jets-Packers spreads in Week 8, underscore analytical diversity without resolving to a house consensus.
AnalystTypical Focus in BreakdownsExample Prediction Style (2025 Weeks)
Defensive tactics, game flowBold underdog picks, e.g., +7 spreads
Matt RyanQB decision-making, passing efficiencyScore totals over in QB duels
Player matchups, skill positionsConsensus winners with stat-backed reasoning
This segment's structure fosters rigorous debate grounded in verifiable data, distinguishing it from less empirical commentary elsewhere, though viewer reception varies based on post-game validation against actual results.

Field Reporting and Graphics Integration

Field reporting in The NFL Today primarily involves on-site contributions from reporters who provide live updates, player interviews, and atmosphere assessments from game venues, particularly for high-profile matchups like and the . These segments capture pregame preparations, fan reactions, and injury updates, integrating seamlessly into studio discussions to offer real-time context beyond scripted analysis. For instance, reporter regularly contributes field reports that inform predictions and highlight emerging storylines during the pregame broadcast. Historically, such elements were limited in the program's early studio-centric format, but expanded in the 1990s with reporters like handling pregame duties before transitioning to game sideline roles. Graphics integration enhances field reports by overlaying dynamic visualizations, such as player tracking data and probabilistic outcome models, directly onto live feeds from the stadium. employs (AR) technology in The NFL Today to superimpose holographic elements—like 3D field recreations and stat comparisons—allowing analysts to dissect plays with spatial accuracy during remote segments. This approach, refined since the late , synchronizes field footage with studio graphics for immersive breakdowns, as seen in pregame enhancements where AR integrates weather impacts and lineup projections. For milestone episodes, such as the 50th anniversary broadcast on September 21, 2025, retro pixelated graphics blend with modern field inputs to evoke historical context while maintaining analytical depth. The synergy of field reporting and fosters by linking empirical on-ground observations with data-driven overlays, such as heat maps from pregame warmups correlated to performance metrics. This method prioritizes verifiable inputs over speculative commentary, with sourced from partnerships ensuring accuracy in metrics like expected points added. During the 2025 season, enhanced production for marquee games included increased camera feeds from field reporters, piped into AR-enhanced studio segments for real-time integration. Such innovations distinguish The NFL Today by grounding broadcasts in observable realities rather than unverified narratives.

On-Air Personnel

Current Hosts and Analysts (2025 Lineup)

As of the 2025 NFL season, The NFL Today features as the primary host, a role he has held since 2006, providing studio moderation and segment transitions during the one-hour pregame broadcast. The analyst panel consists of former head coach , offering coaching insights and predictions; , a former NFL wide receiver who joined in 2017 and contributes player perspectives; and Matt Ryan, the former quarterback who replaced on the desk after Watt transitioned to color commentary duties for game broadcasts. This four-person core lineup emphasizes a mix of veteran coaching analysis, recent player experience, and quarterback expertise, with the panel delivering game breakdowns, fantasy advice, and betting odds discussions weekly.
RolePersonnelBackground Highlights
HostLongtime CBS sportscaster; hosted since 2006, known for engaging interviews and show pacing.
AnalystHall of Fame coach (1992–2006 Steelers tenure, including win); provides strategic breakdowns.
Analyst11-year NFL veteran (2003–2012); focuses on offensive player matchups and motivational angles.
AnalystMatt Ryan2023 Hall of Fame inductee; 2008–2022 starter, MVP in 2016; analyzes quarterback decisions and passing games.
The shift to Ryan filled the vacancy left by Watt, who departed after the 2024 season to pair with play-by-play announcer on CBS's No. 2 game team, maintaining continuity while injecting fresh quarterback-centric commentary into the pregame format. Additional contributors, such as for in-game updates and sideline reporters like , support the main desk but are not part of the primary studio panel. This configuration has been in place since the September 7, 2025, season opener, adapting to personnel changes while prioritizing analytical depth from proven figures.

Historical Contributors and Notable Departures

The NFL Today pioneered live pregame analysis upon its debut on September 21, 1975, with Brent Musburger serving as the inaugural host from 1975 to 1990, delivering the signature opening "You are looking live..." and shaping the show's blend of expert breakdowns and personality-driven commentary. Accompanying Musburger were analysts Irv Cross, a former NFL defensive back providing player insights, and Phyllis George, a former Miss America who became the first woman to serve as a regular contributor on a major network sports pregame program, contributing through 1978 and helping broaden the show's appeal. Later additions included Jimmy "The Greek" Snyder, whose gambling odds predictions from 1976 to 1988 added a distinctive prognosticative element, and Jayne Kennedy, who joined as a feature reporter and co-host in the late 1970s, enhancing on-location reporting. In the show's revival following CBS's reacquisition of AFC broadcast rights in 1998, key contributors included hosts (1998–2003) and (2004–2005), who maintained the program's tradition of studio-led previews, alongside long-serving analysts such as , who provided quarterback perspectives starting in the early 2000s, and , a Super Bowl-winning who joined around 2004 for game strategy analysis. assumed hosting duties from 2006 onward, collaborating with analysts like for coaching insights, while figures such as and offered periodic expert input during transitional periods. These contributors emphasized data-driven predictions and film breakdowns, evolving the format amid changing broadcast landscapes. Notable departures marked pivotal shifts: Snyder was dismissed in December 1988 after making racially insensitive remarks on air about player development, ending his influential run amid public backlash. Musburger was abruptly terminated by on April 1, 1990, amid internal executive changes, concluding his 15-year tenure and leading to a period of format experimentation without a singular . In the , Esiason and Simms exited following the 2023 season when their contracts expired without renewal, announced on April 29, 2024, as opted for roster refresh with additions like Matt Ryan. departed after the 2024 season to transition to a role for game broadcasts in 2025, reducing his studio appearances.

Special Broadcasts

Super Bowl Editions

The Super Bowl editions of The NFL Today, frequently branded as "The Super Bowl Today," deliver extended pregame programming ahead of ' Super Bowl telecasts, featuring in-depth analysis, live interviews, predictions, and historical segments delivered by the show's core team of hosts and analysts. These specials typically span multiple hours, originating from on-site studios at the game venue or integrated remote contributions, and incorporate additional contributors such as former players and coaches for matchup breakdowns and player perspectives. The format builds on the regular show's elements but amplifies scale with Super Bowl-specific content, including commemorative features and cross-promotions with affiliated networks. For on February 11, 2024, aired a four-hour edition from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m. ET, anchored by The NFL Today personnel and highlighting interviews with key players and coaches, advanced game analytics, and tributes to anniversaries. This followed a one-hour documentary special, "You Are Looking Live!," recapping the program's history, which transitioned directly into the pregame. Earlier, coverage on February 7, 2021, featured seven hours of pregame starting with "The Super Bowl Today," including innovative segments like Nickelodeon-themed highlights via a partnership for youth-oriented recaps of pivotal plays. Host James Brown has led these editions for several CBS Super Bowls, including LVIII (2024), LV (2021), LIII (2019), and Super Bowl 50 (2016), providing continuity in studio moderation alongside analysts like Bill Cowher and Nate Burleson for strategic insights and on-air chemistry. Historical precedents include the 2004 Super Bowl XXXVIII pregame, a four-hour "The Super Bowl Today" from Reliant Stadium in Houston, anchored by Jim Nantz with Dan Marino, Deion Sanders, and Boomer Esiason, emphasizing real-time updates and sideline reporting. For Super Bowl LIII in 2019, the show commenced at 2:00 p.m. ET, focusing on Patriots-Rams narratives with extended lead-in from CBS Sports Network programming. These editions underscore CBS's approach to maximizing viewer engagement through layered content, though durations and emphases vary by year based on broadcast logistics and event themes.

Milestone Celebrations and Special Episodes

The Today has featured milestone celebrations primarily centered on its anniversaries, with the most prominent occurring in 2025 to commemorate the program's 50th year since its debut on September 21, 1975, as the first live pregame show. On , 2025—exactly 50 years to the day— aired a dedicated throwback during Week 3 of the season, recreating elements of the original 1975 broadcast to honor its pioneering role in sports television. Hosted by alongside analysts , Matt Ryan, and , the special included guest appearances by , the original host from 1975, who discussed the show's formative years and its impact on coverage. The production incorporated 1970s-era aesthetics, such as retro graphics, a virtual studio set evoking the original design, and participants attired in period fashion like wide lapels and afros, while focusing analysis on the 1975 season's key matchups and outcomes, including the ' dynasty-building efforts. This episode highlighted the show's evolution from its innovative studio format, which integrated on-site reporting and personality-driven commentary, to its current multimedia approach. Beyond anniversaries, special episodes have occasionally deviated from the standard format for thematic or event-tied programming within the James Brown era, though such instances remain tied to broader milestones rather than standalone innovations. For example, extended segments during playoff previews have incorporated historical retrospectives, but these are integrated into regular broadcasts rather than fully distinct . The 50th edition stands out for its deliberate archival fidelity, drawing on CBS's preserved assets to authentically replicate early production techniques without modern embellishments like overlays beyond the virtual set.

Reception and Legacy

In recent seasons, The Today has averaged between 3 and 4 million viewers weekly, positioning it as a strong but not dominant performer among pregame programs. During the 2023 regular season, the show achieved its highest average viewership in six years at 3.3 million, reflecting an 8% year-over-year increase amid broader audience growth. This uptick aligned with surging NFL game viewership, which reached 17.9 million average across networks that year, a 7% rise from 2022 driven by high-profile matchups and streaming integration. However, The NFL Today trailed , which extended its 31-season streak as the top-rated pregame show with 4.4 million average viewers in the 2024-25 season. Into the 2024-25 season, episodes of The NFL Today have hovered around 2.8 million viewers, as seen in the broadcast drawing 2.786 million, signaling a potential softening compared to prior peaks. This contrasts with overall trends, where through early 2025 weeks, games averaged 18.58 million viewers (TV plus digital), the second-highest start since 2010, amid factors like prime-time appeal and data measurement expansions. Analysts attribute pregame dips to fragmented media habits, with viewers opting for game-day apps or social highlights over extended studio analysis, though the show's core audience remains loyal to CBS's traditional broadcast window.

Innovations in Sports Broadcasting

The NFL Today pioneered the live pregame show format in television history upon its debut in 1975, establishing a template for real-time game previews, analyst predictions, and on-air interviews that shifted sports broadcasting from post-game recaps to anticipatory coverage. This innovation emphasized studio-led analysis synchronized with live events, influencing subsequent programs across networks by prioritizing immediacy and personality-driven commentary over scripted highlights. Advancements in production technology have continually shaped the program's evolution, moving from two-inch videotape editing in its early years to computer-assisted digital workflows that enable faster integration of video clips, data overlays, and multi-camera feeds. In 2025, CBS introduced The NFL Today+, the first official streaming-only NFL Sunday pregame extension, debuting on September 7 and broadcasting live for two hours on Paramount+, CBS Sports HQ, and the NFL on CBS YouTube channel prior to the main show. This platform-specific format incorporates interactive elements like live YouTube chats and social media polls for audience participation, alongside on-site reports and real-time news updates, broadening reach to cord-cutters and younger demographics without relying on traditional linear TV. For its 50th anniversary episode on September 21, 2025, the show employed virtual production techniques to recreate the original 1975 studio set, using real-time rendering software such as Reality 5 to generate period-accurate environments, graphics, and lighting without physical reconstruction. This approach, originating from Studio 43 in New York but emulated via VR emulation, allowed seamless blending of historical aesthetics with modern transmission, including throwback music and flashback clips integrated into Week 3 game coverage. Such virtual tools exemplify how The NFL Today has adopted immersive production methods to enhance viewer while preserving archival fidelity, setting precedents for hybrid analog-digital broadcasts in sports media.

Criticisms and Controversies

In 1988, NFL Today analyst Jimmy "The Greek" Snyder was fired by following controversial remarks he made in a television interview, where he attributed the physical superiority of black athletes to practices during , stating that black players were bred for larger posteriors and bigger thighs to enhance speed and power. Snyder, a longtime oddsmaker and panelist known for his betting predictions, apologized but terminated his contract effective immediately, citing the comments as unacceptable. The incident drew widespread condemnation and highlighted tensions over racial commentary in sports media. During the 2014 Ray Rice domestic violence scandal, The NFL Today addressed the running back's indefinite suspension after video evidence emerged of him assaulting his fiancée in an elevator, with host delivering a criticizing a culture that enables such behavior among athletes. Analyst suggested on the program that Rice's aggression might stem from untreated football-induced trauma, prompting debate over whether the panel was excusing violence or contextualizing it through sport's physical toll. The show's coverage, which devoted significant airtime to the incident alongside the child abuse case, was praised by some for confronting accountability issues but criticized by others for potentially softening the league's responsibility. In April 2024, CBS announced the departure of veteran analysts Phil Simms and Boomer Esiason from The NFL Today, replacing them with former quarterback Matt Ryan and others amid a studio revamp, a move described as controversial by industry figures who questioned sidelining experienced voices in favor of newer talent. Esiason, who had co-hosted for over two decades, indicated he had contemplated leaving but expressed no bitterness, while critics argued the changes risked diminishing analytical depth. Simms' prior segments, such as the 2020 "Here We Go" feature, had already faced backlash for being poorly received and detracting from substantive preview content. Broader critiques of the program include perceptions of declining quality in modern pregame analysis, with some observers lamenting that shows like The NFL Today prioritize entertainment over insightful breakdowns compared to earlier eras. Discussions of sociopolitical issues, such as player protests during the in amid President Trump's criticisms, have occasionally led to awkward on-air moments, including hosts wearing multiple advocacy pins that underscored divided public sentiments. Despite such points, the program has maintained relevance, though personnel shakeups and format experiments continue to fuel debate over its direction.

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  100. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2O5Q1Hb5qd4
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