Drew Brees is reportedly leaving NBC after just one year. Plus: some notes on the NFL schedule, Disney’s CEO says ESPN will eventually go direct-to-subscriber; and more.
NYP: Drew Brees done at NBC after one season
The New York Post reported Sunday that NBC NFL analyst Drew Brees is leaving the network after one season, though Brees denied after publication that any decision has been made. On social media, Brees said he is “undecided” on his future and listed an NBC return among possibilities that also include resuming his playing career or training for the senior golf tour.
Per the Post, Brees is viewed as a candidate to replace Greg Olsen on the NFL on FOX “B” team. Olsen is said to be in negotiations with Fox to move up to the network’s lead team.
NBC reached a deal with Brees two years ago prior to his final season in the NFL. The acquisition was considered a significant move at the time, with Brees viewed as the heir apparent to Cris Collinsworth on Sunday Night Football. Brees’ debut season received mixed reviews and NBC’s extension of Collinsworth ended any possible succession plan.
While Tony Romo’s move straight from the playing field to the broadcast booth has been an unqualified success, Brees would join Jason Witten and Jay Cutler on the list of freshly-retired hires who did not work out as advertised. [NYP 5.15]
Bills-Rams leads off NFL schedule
The 2022 NFL regular season will open with the defending champion Rams hosting the Bills on NBC September 8, per the league schedule that was announced last week. Week 1 will also include competing doubleheaders on FOX and CBS, Tom Brady and the Buccaneers facing the Cowboys on Sunday Night Football, and an ESPN/ABC simulcast of Broncos-Seahawks on Monday night.
As the league previously announced, Amazon begins its exclusive Thursday Night Football run with Chargers-Chiefs on September 15. The league’s Christmas tripleheader will consist of the previously announced Broncos-Rams game on CBS and Nickelodeon bookended by Packers-Dolphins on FOX and Buccaneers-Cardinals on NBC.
In a move forecast by the Sugar Bowl’s move to December 30, the NFL has scheduled a Monday night game on January 2, the day of college football’s New Year’s Day bowl games. Bills-Bengals will be simulcast on ESPN and ABC in the window immediately following the Rose Bowl.
The full NFL schedule is available here.
Disney CEO: ESPN going OTT eventually
Disney CEO Bob Chapek said during the company’s earnings call last week that ESPN will eventually shift to a direct-to-subscriber model “at some point, when it’s going to be good for our shareholders,” but gave no timeline or any indication that such a move is close. Chapek stressed that Disney’s linear networks remain “huge cash generators” for the company and that ESPN going over-the-top would necessarily have “ramifications” on that revenue source. [The Motley Fool 5.11]
Plus: Brady salary, Taylor, ESPN extensions
The New York Post reported last week that Tom Brady’s deal to join Fox Sports is worth $375 million over ten years, making it easily the most lucrative contract in sports television history. Fox denied the report and Front Office Sports reported a lower number — $250 million over ten years. … NBC Sports has officially named Maria Taylor the sole host of Football Night in America. She shared hosting duties with Mike Tirico last season … ESPN has recently announced contract extensions with NBA reporter Ros Gold-Onwude and play-by-play voice Dave Pasch. [NYP 5.10, Front Office Sports 5.10, NBC Sports PR, ESPN PR]
