• Loading stock data...
Wednesday, July 2, 2025

Bye Week Broadcaster?

Greg Olsen will call the Rams-Vikings Week 11 match-up.

Greg Olsen will call the Rams-Vikings Week 11 match-up, drawing criticism from the Minnesota Vikings (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)


This Sunday, in what will mark Week 11 of the NFL season, Greg Olsen is set to appear in the broadcast booth for FOX’s coverage of the Los Angeles Rams and Minnesota Vikings.

This is an interesting move for several different reasons. First, Olsen is still playing in the NFL.

It has become commonplace for players like Tony Romo and many others to make the jump from the field to the press box, but on only a few occasions has an active player called a game during a season in which they appeared in a game.

Week 11 marks the Panthers bye week, and the last week before Olsen can return from Injured Reserve. (Olsen is recovering from a foot injury)

Making matters even more interesting is the week 14 matchup between the Panthers and Vikings.

The Minnesota Vikings made have made it known to FOX that they aren’t on board and find it inappropriate that Olsen would call one of their games only weeks before potentially playing them on the field.

A similar situation to this arose in 2014 when Matt Hasselback called a Rams-Cardinals game while still playing for the Colts. The only difference? None of those teams played each other again.

FOX, in a statement to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, offered the following,

“We are excited for the opportunity to make this Sunday’s broadcast fun and insightful with Pro Bowler Greg Olsen, we fully respect the Vikings concerns and will limit the amount of pre-game access allowed to Greg. We look forward to welcoming him in the broadcast booth and giving viewers a unique perspective this Sunday.”

The NFL through a spokesperson delivered the following on the situation,

“We did not object to this. The player will be in the broadcast booth and will not be attending practice or a production meeting.”

Is this the start of a new trend or will the conflict of interest concern become to much hassle for one week of coverage? Definitely something to watch as the NFL tries to find news ways to stop the decline of TV ratings.


This piece has been presented to you by SMU’s Master of Science in Sport Management.


Front Office Sports is a leading multi-platform publication and industry resource that covers the intersection of business and sports.

Want to learn more, or have a story featured about you or your organization? Contact us today.

https://upscri.be/f32ae1/

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Ohio State

Collectives Funnel $20 Million to College Athletes on Last Day Before Revenue..

Collectives frontloaded payments just before the revenue sharing era begins July 1.
exclusive

ESPN, Fox Reluctant to Share Talent With Netflix for Christmas NFL Games

ESPN talents who worked last year’s games include Laura Rutledge and Mina Kimes.

$600M for Browns Stadium Sparks Cleveland Backlash, Possible Lawsuit

The awarding of public funds draws criticism and could bring a lawsuit.

College Sports Revenue-Sharing Underway As More Changes Loom

July 1 marks the first day schools can directly pay players.

Featured Today

The Battle Over Wimbledon’s Ambitious Expansion Plan

A classic NIMBY standoff on one of the most hallowed grounds in sports.
Seattle Rough & Tumble
June 28, 2025

Women’s Sports Bars Are on the Rise. Survival Isn’t Guaranteed

Some women’s sports bars are cashing in. Others are clawing for funding.
June 27, 2025

Shitposters Have Taken the Reins of Pro Sports’ Official Voices

Meet the social media pros turning sports teams into internet trolls.
Jun 17, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers center Sam Reinhart (13) hoists the Stanley Cup after winning game six of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final against the Edmonton Oilers at Amerant Bank Arena
June 26, 2025

Stanley Cup’s International Summer Tour: Rules, Repairs, and Raucousness

No pro trophy tour compares to the NHL’s three-month global victory lap.

What Rolapp’s NFL Exit Means—and the Top Candidates to Replace Him

NFL media boss Brian Rolapp leaves; the league hunts for his replacement.
May 23, 2025

New LPGA Commissioner: Women’s Golf ‘Really Hard’ to Find on TV

Former PGA of America COO Craig Kessler will lead the tour.
Gabby Thomas
exclusive
June 12, 2025

Grand Slam Track Cancels Los Angeles Meet As $30 Million Track Start-Up..

Sources close to Grand Slam insist money is not an issue.
Sponsored

Hottest Matchups Following NFL Schedule Release

The NFL released the 2025 regular-season schedule, and anticipation is already building in the ticket marketplace with four months to go.
Donald Trump, Nick Saban
May 22, 2025

Proposed Trump College Sports Commission May Never Happen

The White House is not sure of its plans.
May 15, 2025

PGA Championship Tees Off With Free Food, Record Hospitality Sales

General admission includes unlimited food and non-alcoholic beverages.
Jun 12, 2019; Boston, MA, USA; St. Louis Blues center Ivan Barbashev (49) and right wing Vladimir Tarasenko (91) hoists the Stanley Cup after defeating the Boston Bruins in game seven of the 2019 Stanley Cup Final at TD Garden
May 15, 2025

The 10 Biggest Stanley Cup Upsets of All Time

Since the 1984–1985 NHL season, 10 squads have defied the odds.
Allyson Felix
May 1, 2025

Allyson Felix on Olympic Pay, Nike, and Track’s Big-Money Era

Felix talked to FOS about her push to help Olympic parents and more.