One of the longest tenured NFL personalities on television is looking to extend his illustrious career.
CBS and The NFL Today host James Brown are reportedly in talks over a new contract extension, Michael McCarthy and Ryan Glasspiegel of Front Office Sports reported on Monday. Brown, 74, has hosted the network’s Sunday NFL pregame show since 2006. Per FOS, his contract with CBS expires after the upcoming season, but Brown has no plans to retire.
“Negotiations have started, but no deal has been finalized,” the report reads.
The NFL Today recently revamped its studio lineup, but kept Brown to captain the ship. Prior to last season, CBS opted to let go of studio analysts Phil Simms and Boomer Esiason in favor of introducing some youth. Matt Ryan and JJ Watt (on a part-time basis) filled those seats alongside NFL Today staples Bill Cowher and Nate Burleson. Now, with Watt moving from the studio to the booth, it’s unclear who (if anyone) will join the crew this season.
FOS suggests that when Brown does decide to hang it up, Burleson “is positioned as his natural successor.” The former NFL wide receiver has proven himself a dynamic television host, holding down a role on CBS’s flagship morning show CBS Mornings since 2021. Brown, himself, has proven multifaceted in the world of television throughout the years, having served as a special correspondent for CBS News and also as a fill-in host for the CBS Evening News.
Even with a succession plan seemingly in place, the day James Brown leaves television will be a sad day for CBS and NFL fans alike. Luckily, that day seems to still be pretty far off.
About Drew Lerner
Drew Lerner is a staff writer for Awful Announcing and an aspiring cable subscriber. He previously covered sports media for Sports Media Watch. Future beat writer for the Oasis reunion tour.