Cris Collinsworth's Future On 'Sunday Night Football' Up In The Air

09/18/2024 08:30 PM

Cris Collinsworth's future on "Sunday Night Football" is reportedly up in the air.

The longtime NBC announcer isn't the only one in the NFL world with an uncertain contract future. Erin Andrews recently revealed on her podcast that she is in a contract year. The veteran sideline reporter told her podcast co-host Charissa Thompson that she could be a free agent heading into the 2025 NFL season. Andrews is trying to enjoy the season without worrying about the future. "I think my goal is always kind of the same as last year. Enjoy it, because it's not going to last forever, especially when your contract is up — and mine is," she told Thompson.

Collinsworth could be in a somewhat similar situation.

According to a report from Sports Illustrated's Jimmy Traina, Collinsworth has one or two years left on his contract. There's speculation that Greg Olsen, who was bumped from the No. 1 team to the No. 2 team at Fox Sports, could take over for Collinsworth.

"Greg Olsen getting bumped for Tom Brady is tough because Olsen was so good and earned the No. 1 analyst role. And Olsen has made it clear that he wants to be a No. 1 analyst somewhere. He reiterated this point with me on a recent SI Media With Jimmy Traina episode," Traina wrote.

"Collinsworth, 65, is reportedly under contract with NBC for either one or two more years. I would think a Tirico-Olsen booth has to sound enticing to NBC. Would the network, though, want to remain loyal to Collinsworth, who has been with NBC since 2006?"

Collinsworth has been NBC's No. 1 NFL analyst since the 2006 season. But he's 65 years old and, perhaps, he could have interest in stepping away in a year or two. Or perhaps NBC could just have interest in making a change.

Olsen, who starred as a tight end for the Carolina Panthers, has made it clear that he wants to be a No. 1 analyst. But he's still supporting Tom Brady.

"I want him to do well. I want him to succeed. I want him to feel I'm a good teammate. It's no different than if he came into the locker room when I was a player and we happened to play the same position," Olsen told The Athletic.

"My success is not contingent upon Tom. Tom being really good doesn't make me less good, and Tom being bad doesn't make me better. Fox has two top teams, and that's how I view it. But I've talked to [on-air partner] Joe [Davis] about this: I want people to think that Joe and I are the best crew on television. It doesn't matter that we're the 'B' crew."

Brady, meanwhile, will be on the call of the Cowboys vs. Ravens game at 4:25 p.m. E.T. on FOX this weekend. Collinsworth and the "Sunday Night Football" crew will have the Falcons vs. Chiefs game, kicking off at 8:20 p.m. E.T. It'll air on NBC.

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