Fox had several changes in store for its 2017 NFL broadcast lineup, including the debut of Jay Cutler on the network’s No. 2 team. Obviously, those plans changed when Cutler decided that he didn’t want to be a retired NFL quarterback just yet and signed a one-year deal with the Miami Dolphins, reuniting with his former offensive coordinator, Adam Gase. So how would Fox replace Cutler on short notice? As could have been expected, Cutler won’t be replaced.
Rather than find another analyst on short notice to team with play-by-play man Kevin Burkhardt and analyst Charles Davis, Fox is moving ahead with Burkhardt and Davis as their No. 2 NFL announcing team with Pam Oliver as the sideline reporter. Joe Buck and Troy Aikman are entrenched as the No. 1 NFL broadcast team, entering their 16th season on the air together. Erin Andrews is the team’s sideline reporter. But Fox shuffled quite a few play-by-play and analyst pairings elsewhere in their lineup.
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Analyst Mark Schlereth also joins the Fox Sports NFL crew, making the jump from ESPN. The former NFL lineman will be partnered on the No. 5 announcing team with Dick Stockton on play-by-play and sideline reporter Shannon Spake.
Fox’s final two NFL announcing teams will be made up of Thom Brennaman and Chris Spielman (Peter Schrager reporting), with Sam Rosen and David Diehl on the No. 7 team (Jennifer Hale reporting). Diehl will also be calling college football games for CBS Sports Network, but Fox made it clear that he would still be part of their NFL coverage.
Additionally, Dean Blandino is joining Mike Pereira as a rules analyst on Fox’s NFL coverage. With Blandino now also providing analysis, Pereira will go on the road with the No. 1 team of Buck, Aikman and Andrews for select games throughout the season.
So here is the full Fox NFL announcing lineup:
2017 Fox NFL Broadcast Teams
Joe Buck, Troy Aikman and Erin Andrews
Kevin Burkhardt, Charles Davis and Pam Oliver
Kenny Albert, Ronde Barber and Kristina Pink
Chris Myers, Daryl Johnston and Laura Okmin
Dick Stockton, Mark Schlereth and Shannon Spake
Thom Brennaman, Chris Spielman and Peter Schrager
Sam Rosen, David Diehl and Jennifer Hale
On the studio side, Tony Gonzalez moves from CBS to be part of the Fox NFL Kickoff pregame show, which precedes Fox NFL Sunday. Gonzalez will join host Charissa Thompson (who’s staying at Fox!), and fellow analysts Colin Cowherd and Dave Wannstedt. Cooper Manning will continue contributing weekly features.
Fox NFL Sunday stays with its winning lineup of hosts Curt Menefee and Terry Bradshaw, analysts Howie Long, Jimmy Johnson and Michael Strahan, and Jay Glazer providing insider information. Rob Riggle will also be back for picks, while Blandino and Pereira will also be part of the show. Washington Redskins cornerback Josh Norman returns as a regular contributor to both Fox pregame shows.
Fox’s regular season NFL coverage begins with Week 1 on Sept. 10.
About Ian Casselberry
Ian is a writer, editor, and podcaster. You can find his work at Awful Announcing and The Comeback. He's written for Sports Illustrated, Yahoo Sports, MLive, Bleacher Report, and SB Nation.