As the pregame show of The NFL Today undergoes changes, Boomer Esiason has announced that he will not be returning to CBS in the fall. After 22 years on the show, Esiason has opted to focus on his radio show and CBS Sports Network simulcast instead. This marks a significant change for the pregame show and leaves it with a re-worked puzzle.
Despite Esiason’s departure, host James Brown will remain on the show. Other members of the show, including Phil Simms, Bill Cowher, and Nate Burleson, also had contracts that were up for renewal. J.J. Watt is under contract but the lineup for the upcoming season is yet to be finalized.
As advertisers prepare for their annual “upfronts” in two weeks, more announcements regarding The NFL Today’s lineup are expected. The show debuted in the 1970s and was once considered appointment viewing but now faces competition from various platforms offering information and analysis on Sunday mornings and early afternoons. The changing landscape of sports media has led to a shift in viewership for traditional pregame shows like The NFL Today.
