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.

With the NFL preseason only a month away, ESPN is poised to re-up one of its most important football voices.

Analyst Dan Orlovsky is “at the 1-yard line” with the network on a long-term contract extension, say sources briefed on the negotiations. Under the new deal, the NFL and college football analyst will continue to appear on NFL Live, SportsCenter, Get Up, and First Take. He’ll also continue to work as a game analyst for Monday Night Football’s second-string team, alongside Chris Fowler, Louis Riddick, and Laura Rutledge.

Orlovsky’s new contract is not yet final, but sources say the two sides have agreed to terms. Orlovsky posted a picture toasting himself before the July 4 holiday weekend on X/Twitter and on his Instagram Story wrote, “Here’s to what’s next.”

Since joining ESPN in 2018, the former NFL quarterback has risen quickly through the ranks. Orlovsky, whose career began in 2005, is known for his expert breakdowns of game film. He’s also a versatile TV talent who’s able to trade quips with Mike Greenberg and Stephen A. Smith before dissecting X’s and O’s.

ESPN’s preference is to develop and retain homegrown talent. Orlovsky fits the mold along with Kirk Herbstreit, Ryan Clark, and his NFL Live castmates Mina Kimes and Marcus Spears. Despite his popularity with management in Bristol, he’s flirted with the idea of leaving for a coaching job in the NFL.

During an interview with Pat McAfee, NFL insider Adam Schefter said Orlovsky would like to be a head coach someday.

“Dan’s been talking to some teams and seeing if there’s something that interests him and is worthwhile for him,” Schefter told McAfee. 

Schefter added: “I think Dan aspires to be a head coach in time. And that’s what he’d like to do. And so he’s been talking to people to see if there’s a spot that would work for him. It’s not automatic. He does a great job on TV. Obviously, he could stay in TV and do that for the rest of his career if that’s what he wanted. But I think at his core, I think he misses being part of a football team.”

Talking about football on ESPN instantly gives coaching candidates credibility and visibility. The ESPN-to-coaching carousel has spun through the years. Jon Gruden, then ESPN’s highest-paid employee, left MNF to become coach of the Raiders in 2018, a decade since he had previously graced the sidelines. Analyst Jeff Saturday left for an interim head coaching job with the Colts in 2022, only to return to the network in 2023. 

Front Office Sports first reported Orlovsky was “exploring his options” in February as he faced possible free agency this summer. In June, The Athletic reported he was “expected” to re-up with the network. ESPN declined to comment.

ESPN stars are slated to get some face time on ABC’s Good Morning America this summer.

An ESPN spokesperson confirmed to Front Office Sports that Malika Andrews will be a guest cohost on the morning talk show this Saturday and Sunday, and on the GMA3 program next Monday. Joe Buck will also fill in on GMA from July 23–25. 

Sources indicated Elle Duncan and Laura Rutledge have also had discussions to potentially set up dates for later this summer. 

ABC is the sister station of ESPN, with both operating under the Disney umbrella. 

Andrews, Duncan, and Rutledge are star anchors for ESPN, while Buck is the play-by-play broadcaster for Monday Night Football. 

The guest-host spots are part of an ongoing trend of legacy morning news and entertainment programs growing more comfortable using talent from the sports side. One industry source noted sports broadcasters are garnering more respect for their abilities due to their reps of handling live events on the fly.  

GMA cohosts Michael Strahan and Robin Roberts both came from sports. Mike Tirico guest-cohosted NBC’s Today show for a week earlier this year, and Dwyane Wade guest-hosted the show’s 3rd Hour on Monday. Kaylee Hartung straddles between NFL on Amazon’s Prime Video and daytime talk on NBC.