James Palmer is headed back to a prominent national NFL television role, and his peers appear completely ready to see him back in action.
Prime Video is adding Palmer as its NFL insider for “Thursday Night Football,” where he will provide reporting for the pregame and postgame shows. Palmer is expected to replace Ian Rapoport in the role, and the news quickly produced a flood of congratulations from reporters and colleagues around the league.
NFL Community Celebrates James Palmer’s Prime Video Move
Few endorsements can get to the point faster than Bobby Belt.
“One of the best,” Belt wrote on X after news of Palmer’s move surfaced Monday.
Steve Wyche, who worked alongside Palmer during his lengthy run at NFL Network, offered an even more enthusiastic response.
“This is such great news. A dear friend and one of the true gems in the industry,” Wyche wrote on X. “J.P. is going to crush this. Let’s Go!!!!!”
Albert Breer also welcomed the move.
“Couldn’t be happier for James Palmer! He’s gonna be great there,” Breer wrote Monday.
Anthony Biase called Palmer “one of my favorite people on this planet,” adding that “good things happen to good people” in his congratulatory post.
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Photographer Logan Bowles joined the celebration as well.
“Congrats, my friend. Looking forward to seeing you a few times this year,” Bowles wrote on X.
Apparently Prime Video did not need much help winning the Palmer approval poll.
James Palmer Returns to National NFL Television
Palmer’s résumé helps explain the reaction.
He joined NFL Media in 2015 and spent nine years as a national reporter, covering major events including the Super Bowl, NFL Draft and NFL Combine while appearing across NFL Network programming.
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NFL Network bought out Palmer’s contract in April 2024 during a round of talent changes. Palmer called the network his “dream job” when announcing his departure and emphasized the relationships he had built during his time there.
He did not disappear from NFL coverage.
Palmer has since worked as an NFL insider for Bleacher Report, appeared on 104.3 The Fan, and continued podcast work with former NFL receiver Steve Smith Sr.
The Prime Video move puts him back on a weekly national NFL broadcast. He is expected to handle insider reporting around “Thursday Night Football” after Rapoport’s move deeper into ESPN’s NFL operation.
For a reporter whose NFL Network exit prompted plenty of disappointment two years ago, Monday’s reaction carried a different tune.
This time, the football media world was celebrating where Palmer is going rather than wondering why he was leaving.
