NBC’s weekly Football Night in America show before its Sunday night primetime broadcast will look at little different in 2021.
According to Andrew Marchand of the New York Post, former NFL quarterback Drew Brees, the network’s prized offseason acquisition, will team up with Mike Tirico and Tony Dungy on the FNIA main desk. Former ESPN reporter/host Maria Taylor, who NBC lured away from the Worldwide Leader this summer, will work with Chris Simms on the side desk.
Meanwhile, Jac Collinsworth and Rodney Harrison will be reporting on location from that evening’s game, and Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio will serve as the broadcast’s league insider.
Liam McHugh, who has been at NBC since 2010, will no longer be part of the FNIA lineup, Marchand says.
NBC’s Football Night in America will use Drew Brees on lead desk with Mike Tirico and Tony Dungy.
Maria Taylor will team with Chris Simms on side desk.
Jac Collinsworth will be on game site with Rodney Harrison.
Mike Florio is the insider.
Liam McHugh is no longer on FNIA
— Andrew Marchand (@AndrewMarchand) August 30, 2021
Brees is the biggest name of the bunch here. The recently retired former Saints star made his Sunday Night Football debut in the booth alongside Al Michaels and Chris Collinsworth during last night’s Falcons-Browns preseason game.
Prior to becoming coworkers, Brees and Taylor were linked by the latter’s impassioned criticism of the future Hall of Fame quarterback last summer regarding his comments about standing for the national anthem.
There didn’t seem to be much awkwardness between the two in this photo posted by NBC last night though, save for their actual poses for the camera.
NBC Sports’ NFL “rookie” teammates @MariaTaylor and @drewbrees on location in Atlanta.
The Falcons host the Browns at 8pm ET tonight on NBC. pic.twitter.com/9SZ7UAMyw9
— NBC Sports PR (@NBCSportsPR) August 29, 2021
NBC will broadcast the NFL season opener between the Bucs and Cowboys on Thursday, September 9.
The network’s first Sunday Night Football telecast will feature the Rams and Bears on September 12.
The post NBC’s Plans For Sunday Night Football Broadcast Revealed appeared first on The Spun.
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