If Tom Brady and Greg Olsen turn them down, Netflix should know Phil Simms is more than ready to call their NFL package on Christmas Day.
Earlier this year, Netflix announced a three-year deal with the NFL to broadcast a Christmas Day slate of games. This season, Netflix has two games and they have no one to announce them. That’s where Phil Simms comes in. Simms joined WFAN’s Boomer Esiason and Gregg Giannotti this week and the former CBS analyst was promptly asked about his interest in getting back in the booth for Netflix.
Netflix, meet Phil Simms pic.twitter.com/hO2IDJRInD
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) September 26, 2024
“Of course,” Simms said without hesitation. “If they ask me, I’ll think about it for about one second and say, ‘I’ll do it.’”
Netflix hasn’t asked Simms yet, but they did ask Fox about Kevin Burkhardt and their $375 million analyst, Tom Brady. The streaming service was reportedly turned down. Still remaining on their wishlist, however, are Ian Eagle, Noah Eagle, Greg Olsen, and Nate Burleson.
Bussin’ With The Boys host Taylor Lewan also recently revealed he was on Netflix’s “shortlist” of potential Christmas Day broadcasters. And with all of these personalities being reported as candidates for Netflix, Giannotti asked whether Simms is trying to proactively throw his hat into the ring.
“I kind of let it be known that I would love to do it and then I heard you guys talking about they want this guy and that guy to do it and everything,” Simms said before admitting he misses being in the booth. “Doing the preseason games for the Giants, I was sitting up there doing it and I’m going, ‘Damn, I really like this.’ If they ask me, of course, I’m gonna say yes. I don’t know if they will because I’m old, and ‘we need fresh guys in there.’ Whatever. We’ll see.”
Simms called two Super Bowls for NBC before spending 13 seasons alongside Jim Nantz until CBS made room for Tony Romo by sending the former Giants quarterback to the studio in 2017. And since departing CBS earlier this year, Simms has already made his way back to the booth. Simms called games for the Giants this preseason and will work alongside Ian Eagle for Westwood One’s Thursday Night Football radio broadcast this week.
It makes sense for Netflix to want broadcasters with experience for their Christmas Day games because the spotlight will be on them. It also makes sense that CBS and Fox might not want to lend their broadcasters to Netflix, considering they’ll have their own games to worry about.
But a former lead NFL analyst who called eight Super Bowls raising their hand to say, ‘Pick me!’ seems like a decent option.
[WFAN, via CBS Sports Network]