Rumor had it that CBS wanted to shake up the pregame show “The NFL Today.” Now the network is in the process of implementing some changes.
Boomer Esiason and Phil Simms will not return to the show, reports Andrew Marchand of The Athletic. Another former NFL quarterback, Matt Ryan, will join the pregame panel with analysts Bill Cowher and Nate Burleson and host James Brown.
Esiason, the former Cincinnati Bengals and New York Jets quarterback, has been on “The NFL Today” for 22 years. He announced on his WFAN radio morning show Monday that he would not be returning.
“I am stepping away from ‘The NFL Today’ on CBS,” Esiason said, while also announcing he has signed an extension with WFAN. “More their decision than maybe mine, but I really thought the Super Bowl was my swan song and I loved the way CBS handled it, especially with us guys there in Las Vegas.”
Boomer Esiason announces he is leaving The NFL Today on CBS, but signed an extension to continue his WFAN morning show with Gio pic.twitter.com/91E0OzmGx9
— Terrible announcement (@awfulannouncing) April 29, 2024
Simms, who won two Super Bowls as the New York Giants quarterback, joined “The NFL Today” in 2017 after 13 years as CBS’ top game analyst with announcer Jim Nantz. (Prior to that, he called games with Greg Gumbel for six seasons.)
Ryan joined CBS during the 2023-2024 NFL season after being released by the Indianapolis Colts. The 15-year veteran (who played 14 seasons for the Atlanta Falcons) was open to continuing his playing career when he called game broadcasts with Andrew Catalon and Tiki Barber, but no team showed interest.
Last week, Ryan officially announced his retirement. Knowing he was ready to become a full-time broadcaster likely pushed CBS to add him to “The NFL Today.”
