There have been big changes at NBC as of late, as they try to return to the top of the sports world.
In addition to airing Sunday Night Football and broadcasting the Super Bowl this season, NBC also picked up the NBA and will take over the Sunday Night Baseball broadcast. However, despite the success of their football coverage, it looks like they will be making a major change.
NBC, Tony Dungy To Part Ways
Leading up to NBC’s game broadcast featuring Mike Tirico and Cris Collinsworth with Melissa Stark (and Kathryn Tappen or Kaylee Hartung, depending on the situation).
NBC airs Football Night in America featuring Maria Taylor, Chris Simms, Jason Garrett, Devin McCourty, Mike Florio, and Matthew Berry broadcast in NBC’s studio while Cris’s son, Jac Collinsworth, Tony Dungy, and Rodney Harrison are out on the field.
According to The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand, Dungy will no longer be a part of NBC’s broadcast.
Dungy, who coached both the Buccaneers and Colts, leading the Colts to a Super Bowl XLI victory, has been part of the broadcast for 17 seasons, and the show is currently the NFL’s highest-rated pregame show, which makes this a surprise to some.
However, this is reportedly just the first of many changes.
“The Dungy move is one of the first decisions in what is anticipated to be a new-look show,” writes Marchand. “While it is the highest-rated Sunday pregame show, it has the benefit of being sandwiched between the late 4:25 p.m. window on CBS and Fox and its premiere game on Sunday night.”
🏈NEWS: Tony Dungy likely out at NBC as network looks to revamp “Football Night in America,” The Athletic has learned.https://t.co/PjwBPj0zLL
— Andrew Marchand (@AndrewMarchand) February 25, 2026
Marchand went on to add that Dungy has not been “fully informed” of the move and could offer him an “emeritus” role, much like it did with Al Michaels and Bob Costas.
Dungy has recently been critical of the NFL’s playoff schedule.
Now, the question becomes who NBC will look to replace its talent after its batch of cuts is finished.
“While NBC wants to revamp, the pool of potential analysts could make it difficult to do it in one full swoop,” says Marchand.
“The No. 1 NFL TV studio target, former Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin, might be reluctant to enter TV, while Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce appears to want to play another year and has indicated he prefers to call games if he enters broadcasting.”
He added, “Cam Heyward appeared on NBC’s Super Bowl pregame, but might not be done playing. Kirk Cousins was on CBS’s postseason pregame, and though he is expected to be cut by the Atlanta Falcons, he could also stay on the field. A Wild Card is quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who also might play another year with the Steelers.”
It will be interesting to see just who retires and decides to get into announcing. Someone like Rodgers could be a hot commodity if he indeed hangs them up.
