The Peyton Manning chase is over, with the comfort of retirement beating 11 weeks of Thursday Night Football. In other news, NBC’s Dan Patrick is done on Football Night in America, ESPN’s Jim Trotter is joining NFL Network and ESPN has hired a pair of former coaches.
A Manning, A Plan, A Denial: Omaha
Former NFL QB Peyton Manning has decided not to join Fox Sports’ Thursday Night Football broadcast team, the New York Post reported Tuesday. Manning, who has been coveted by the NFL’s rights partners since his 2016 retirement, had previously turned down ESPN’s offer to join Monday Night Football. Both ESPN and Fox were willing to pay Manning upwards of $10 million per year, according to earlier reporting by Sporting News.
According to the Post, Fox does not have a clear alternative to Manning. The network has reportedly brought in NFL Network’s Kurt Warner and recently retired players Carson Palmer and Joe Thomas for auditions. [NYP 3.27]
For Patrick, Sunday Night No Longer Football Night
NBC Sports host Dan Patrick is leaving NBC’s Football Night in America, the New York Post reported Tuesday, ending his ten-year tenure on the NFL pregame show. Patrick told the Post that he turned down a five-year extension to continue in the role. His decision will not necessarily impact NBCSN simulcasts of his daily radio show, as those are part of a separate licensing agreement.
Speaking of, Patrick said he is close to reaching a three-year extension with AT&T and DirecTV to continue his eponymous show, which on Wednesday was nominated for a Sports Emmy. [NYP 3.27]
Trotter to NFL Network
Farrell and Fox Joining ESPN
ESPN has hired former Boston Red Sox manager John Farrell to serve as a Major League Baseball studio analyst, it was announced last week. Farrell will debut on a Baseball Tonight season preview show Wednesday night.
In other news, The Athletic reported last week that ESPN has hired former NFL head coach John Fox for its NFL studio coverage. ESPN has not yet officially announced the move. [ESPN PR 3.23; The Athletic 3.20]
