James Brown, the dean of NFL studio hosts, is in talks for a new contract extension with CBS Sports that would keep him at the helm of The NFL Today, sources tell Front Office Sports.
Brown was named host of The NFL Today in February 2006. But the three-time Emmy winner’s current two-year contract with CBS expires after the upcoming season. Negotiations have started, but no deal has been finalized. Still, the 74-year-old Brown has no plans to retire—and wants to continue at NFL Today, say sources.
The legendary Brown is so well-respected he might become another Dick Vitale or Lee Corso, who can make their own decision about when they want to retire. If Brown does, 43-year-old Nate Burleson is positioned as his natural successor. The fast-rising Burleson was named cohost of CBS Mornings in September 2021, with Gayle King and Tony Dokoupil.
Over the decades, Brown served as the glue of NFL Today as management turned over the cast. During his long run, he has worked with many famous analysts, including Phil Simms, Boomer Esiason, Shannon Sharpe, Dan Marino, and Bart Scott. This past season, Brown worked with Burleson, Bill Cowher, Matt Ryan, and J.J. Watt.
During his career, Brown has hosted a record 10 Super Bowl pregame shows. They include six CBS Super Bowl pregame shows (in 2024, 2021, 2019, 2016, 2013, and 2010), plus four Super Bowl pregame shows during a previous 10-year stint with Fox.
Brown, who also serves as a special correspondent for CBS News, started his career with the network in 1984 before accepting the position as host of the then-new NFL on Fox pregame show with Terry Bradshaw, Howie Long, and Jimmy Johnson in 1994. Fox’s new show overtook NFL Today to become the No. 1 pregame show. Brown returned to CBS in 2005 and has led the league’s original NFL pregame show ever since.
Nicknamed “JB,” the Washington, D.C., native was named “Studio Host of the Decade” by Sports Illustrated in 2010. As the last man standing from his original 2006 NFL Today crew, his contract negotiations should be one of the most closely followed of the 2025 season.
Meanwhile, other networks are also getting their ducks in a row for the upcoming NFL season. FOS reported Monday that ESPN is at the “1-yard line” on a new contract extension for NFL analyst Dan Orlovsky. Meanwhile, both ESPN and Fox will play hardball this season if Netflix tries to poach NFL TV talent for its Christmas Day doubleheader.
A spokesperson for CBS said the network does not comment on contracts.
