NFL RedZone on NFL Network is one of the staples of NFL Sundays.
As the early Sunday games progress, Scott Hanson will welcome you to the “witching hour” around 3 p.m. ET every week — an all-so-familiar phrase to football fans.
But what exactly is the witching hour?
What Is the Witching Hour?
According to Hanson, there is no set time for the witching hour, but it usually occurs between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. ET as games get into the fourth quarter. He describes this as the time period “where losses become wins and where wins become losses.”
Before coining the popular name, Hanson referred to it as the “best hour of sports television.”
Viewers are taken to every game with a close finish as teams drive down the field. This is especially great for those with bets on games or fantasy football players, as it gives them a chance to catch key moments from multiple games at once.
Hanson once told SI’s Jimmy Traina that Brent Musburger first said the term “witching hour” on NFL Today on CBS. The phrase was originally used behind the scenes at CBS by Jimmy “The Greek” Snyder and Mike Francesa.
Who Is Scott Hanson?
Since joining NFL Network in 2006 and becoming a studio host in 2008, Hanson has been the host of NFL RedZone since its debut in 2009.
He’s known for going the entire seven-hour broadcast without taking a bathroom break, adjusting his diet to handle a long, football-filled afternoon.
Before his time at NFL Network, Hanson held television roles in Philadelphia, Washington D.C., Tampa Bay, Illinois, and Michigan.
During his college days at Syracuse, Hanson played the sport as a long snapper, wide receiver, and defensive back. In his senior year, the Orangemen won the Fiesta Bowl, finishing 20-4 over his final two seasons under head coach Paul Pasqualoni.
What Is NFL RedZone?
NFL RedZone airs exclusively on Sundays during the NFL regular season, running from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. ET.
Throughout the seven-hour broadcast, you’ll catch action from every game, featuring live look-ins and key moments from close matchups. NFL RedZone guarantees viewers every touchdown scored across the league.
At 1 p.m., Hanson kicks off each Sunday broadcast with his signature line: “Seven hours of commercial-free football… starts now.”
This season, Hanson will be the sole host of NFL RedZone.
Previously, cable subscribers could watch Hanson’s version, while Sunday NFL Ticket users on DIRECTV had access to a separate version hosted by Andrew Siciliano.