CBS' “The NFL Today” is making a two-for-one quarterback trade.
Longtime NFL analysts Phil Simms and Boomer Esiason are out, while Matt Ryan is on the network's pregame show, according to sources familiar with the move and Esiason, who announced the news Monday morning.
Ryan will be joined on set by host James Brown, Nate Burleson and Bill Cowher, with JJ Watt on a part-time basis. Burleson and Cowher also had expiring contracts.
On CBS, Sims, 68, who rivaled John Madden as the best game analyst in the sport, called Super Bowls and was the center of the conversation. He has been the lead gaming analyst for CBS for nearly 20 years. In 2017, CBS replaced Sims with Tony Romo on its No. 1 team and Sims moved to the studio.
Esiason, 63, announced he would not be returning to “The NFL Today” during his top-rated morning radio show on WFAN. He added that he signed an extension to stay with partner Greg Gianotti in the mornings on WFAN and simulcast on CBS Sports Network. Esiason has been with CBS for 22 years.
Ryan, 38, was a fast riser for CBS. After a Hall of Fame career at quarterback, he started at the bottom of the game broadcast depth chart, teaming with Andrew Catalon and Tiki Barber in games. Ryan also appeared on a variety of CBS studio platforms, impressing CBS Sports President David Pearson and his team of executives.
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(Phil Sims Image: Roy Rocklin/FilmMagic/Getty Images)
