The one constant about NFL television broadcasts is change. With big money involved for the networks that have traditional and streaming rights to the league’s games, they are each looking for their own special splash in the booth, whether it’s Sunday afternoon or prime time.
There was a major shakeup in announcing teams across the board ahead of the 2022 NFL season. Although CBS will have the same “A” team, ESPN, Fox, NBC and Amazon Prime Video — the new exclusive rights-holder to “Thursday Night Football” — all worked to put together the best combinations of play-by-play men and color commentators.
Starting with “Monday Night Football” having a completely different but familiar look, here’s what’s new at the all the networks that will air NFL games in 2022:
MORE: Complete 2022 NFL prime-time schedule
NFL announcers 2022
What’s new at ESPN?
- Joe Buck, play-by-play
- Troy Aikman, color commentary
- Lisa Salters, sideline reporter
“Monday Night Football” is back on the marquee for its booth after getting Joe Buck and Troy Aikman to leave Fox after 19 seasons together there. They replace Steve Levy, Brian Griese and Louis Riddick on the main “MNF” broadcast. Peyton and Eli Manning will have their alternative “ManningCast” available for 10 of those games, airing on ESPN2.
Lisa Salters returns to report on the sidelines for Buck and Aikman. Retired NFL official John Parry also is back as the rules analyst.
ESPN also will feature a second “MNF” game in Week 2 (Titans at Bills), plus a Week 8 Sunday London game (Broncos vs. Jaguars) and a Week 18 Saturday doubleheader (teams TBD).
For the extra games, Levy and Riddick will be joined by Dan Orlovsky with Griese having left the network to become the 49ers’ quarterbacks coach. Laura Rutledge rounds out the crew on the sidelines.
Before MNF, “Monday Night Countdown” will have a new addition, with Robert Griffin III replacing Randy Moss (now Sundays only) to join Suzy Kolber, Booger McFarland, Alex Smith, Steve Young, Michelle Beisner-Buck and Adam Schefter.
MORE: Why Joe Buck and Troy Aikman left Fox to join ‘Monday Night Football’
What’s new at Fox?
- Kevin Burkhardt, play-by-play
- Greg Olsen, color commentary
- Erin Andrews, sideline reporter
- Tom Rinaldo, sideline reporter
Fox replaced Buck and Aikman by promoting Kevin Burkhardt and former Pro Bowl tight end Greg Olsen to the “A” team. Erin Andrews will remain the network’s primary sideline reporter, teamed up with fellow former ESPNer Tom Rinaldi.
The “B” team will feature Joe Davis, making the transition from prominent college football duties, to work with Fox fixture Darryl Johnston. Pam Oliver, who had worked with Burkhardt and Olsen, is the sideline reporter.
Adam Amin, Mark Schlereth and Christina Pink form the third team, followed by Kenny Albert, Jonathan Vilma and Shannon Spake. Kevin Kugler, Mark Sanchez and Laura Okmin and Chris Myers, Robert Smith and Jen Hale round out Fox’s NFL announcers for the season. Smith is a newcomer, replacing Johnston with Myers.
Former NFL officiating heads Mike Pereira and Dean Blandino are back again as the two rules analysts.
There are also no changes for the popular “Fox NFL Sunday” pregame show with Curt Menefee, Terry Bradshaw, Howie Long, Jimmy Johnson, Michael Strahan and Jay Glazer all still in the fold.
MORE: What happened to Michelle Tafoya?
What’s new at NBC?
- Mike Tirico, play-by-play
- Cris Collinsworth, color commntary
- Melissa Stark, sideline reporter
Al Michaels left for Amazon Prime Video to call “Thursday Night Football”. That elevated Mike Tirico to full-time play-by-play status on “Sunday Night Football” alongside returning color man Cris Collinsworth. NFL media veteran Melissa Stark replaces Michele Tafoya as the SNF in-game sideline reporter. Retired NFL official Terry McAulay remains as the rules analyst.
Maria Taylor, who left ESPN and joined NBC right before last year’s Summer Olympics in Beijing, returns as the host of “Football Night”, the network’s complementary studio show. While Tony Dungy and Rodney Harrison are back, former Cowboys coach Jason Garrett replaces Drew Brees on set.
Mike Florio, Chris Simms and Jac Collinsworth (Cris’ son) also support the team with features. A notable addition to the pregame coverage is former ESPN lead fantasy football analyst Matthew Berry as a groundbreaking crossover personality into a traditional NFL broadcast.
What’s new at CBS?
- Jim Nantz, play-by-play
- Tony Romo, color commentary
- Tracy Wolfson, sideline reporter
Jim Nantz, Tony Romo and Tracy Wolfson are the only unchanged “A” team from all the networks. There are also are no changes on their six supporting teams. In order, they are: Ian Eagle, Charles Davis and Evan Washburn; Kevin Harlan, Trent Green and Melanie Collins; Greg Gumbel, Adam Archuleta and A.J. Ross; Andrew Catalon and James Lofton; Spero Dedes and Jay Feely; Tom McCarthy and Tiki Barber.
When needed, Beth Mowins also will do play-by-play. Aditi Kinkhabwala joins the CBS’ group of rotating sideline reporters. Gene Steratore remains as the rules analyst.
There’s also one small lineup change to “The NFL Today” as James Brown, Nate Burleson, Boomer Esiason, Bill Cowher and Phil Simms are all back. Long-time NFL insider Jason La Canfora is the departure, replaced by Jonathan Jones.
MORE: A complete guide to Amazon’s ‘Thursday Night Football’ broadcasts
What’s new at Amazon Prime Video?
- Al Michaels, play-by-play
- Kirk Herbstreit, color commentary
- Kaylee Hartung, sideline reporter
Prime Video will be the exclusive home of the rebranded “Thursday Night Football” (8:20 p.m. ET) in 2022. The 15-game slate, minus the Week 1 opener and Thanksgiving night, kicks off in Week 2 with Chargers at Chiefs and ends in Week 17 with Cowboys at Titans.
Al Michaels leaves NBC to bolster the midweek prime-time package, teaming with Kirk Herbstreit, who will remain the top college football color man at ESPN on Saturdays. Former ESPN college football reporter Kaylee Hartung returns to sports to provide sideline reports on the NFL broadcasts.
For pregame, postgame and halftime duties, former Fox Sports personality Charissa Thompson will anchor, supported by former Fox NFL Sunday panelist Tony Gonzalez. Richard Sherman, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Andrew Whitworth will also provide analysis. The lineup was set to also include Aqib Talib, who decided to step away to focus on a family matter.
Amazon Prime Video is combining established broadcast stars with some outspoken and intelligent newcomers. As long as the games continue to be compelling, the formula will keep working just fine — just like other NFL ratings game monsters.
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