The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
BREES’ DECISION SPARKS NETWORK SCRAMBLE
In a flurry of news on the NFL media front on Friday, the NFL’s all-time passing leader committed to join NBC when he retires eventually, and CBS dropped one of football’s longest-tenured commentators and then raided Fox for a new No. 2 game analyst, according to three industry sources.
Rounding up the moves that impacted Drew Brees, Dan Fouts and Charles Davis:
■ Brees, who in 2018 became the NFL’s all-time leader in passing yardage, committed to join NBC when he retires, likely in a year or two. Brees recently signed a twoyear, $50 million contract with the Saints but could step away from the playing field after the 2020 season if he chooses.
As soon as he retires, Brees would become NBC’s game analyst on Notre Dame football, a role handled by Doug Flutie since 2014. He also will join NBC’s “Football Night in America” Sunday night studio show, where Tony Dungy, Rodney Harrison and Chris Simms are the incumbent analysts.
Down the line, Brees, 41, could join the Sunday night NFL booth, but NBC has no plans to replace Cris Collinsworth, 61, who is very much valued by the network, and no future game analyst role on NFL games was promised to Brees.
Brees also would be in line for a game analyst role if NBC acquires a second prime-time NFL package.
NBC declined to comment on Brees’ decision, which an industry source confirmed to the Miami Herald after it was originally reported by the New York Post.
■ Legendary Al Michaels, 75, is expected to leave his job as NBC’s lead play by play announcer after the January 2022 Super Bowl, with Mike Tirico moving into the role.
Tirico has been NBC’s prime-time Olympic host, play-by-play voice for Notre Dame football and NFL studio host, among other assignments.
He previously was ESPN’s “Monday Night Football” announcer and No. 2 NBA announcer before leaving for NBC in 2016.
■ Brees also had conversations with ESPN, which was unwilling to make the financial commitment that Brees was seeking for the lead analyst job on “MNF.” ESPN continues to explore options to replace Booger McFarland, with Dan Orlovsky and Louis Riddick among the candidates. The future role of ESPN “MNF” play-by-play man Joe Tessitore also remains in question.
■ CBS dropped Fouts, the 68-year-old Hall of Fame quarterback who has had a 32-year career as a broadcaster that included many years as a college football announcer for ABC and later as an NFL announcer for CBS since 2008, including the past six years alongside Ian Eagle on the network’s No. 2 team.
■ According to a source, CBS immediately targeted Fox’s Davis, 55, to replace Fouts on its No. 2 team, and Davis informed Fox that he’s leaving his job as the No. 2 NFL game analyst for CBS.
■ The No. 2 analyst job at Fox is likely to go to Greg Olsen when he retires. The veteran tight end, 35, recently signed with Seattle after parting ways with the Panthers.