CBS has decided to shake up its NFL pregame show with the addition of retired tight end Tony Gonzalez.
Gonzalez and a yet-to-be-announced analyst will join “The NFL Today,” while Dan Marino and Shannon Sharpe will be let go.
“While we welcome Tony, we want to acknowledge Dan Marino and Shannon Sharpe who have contributed greatly to the success of ‘The NFL Today’ for more than a decade,” said Sean McManus, Chairman of CBS Sports.
“Dan and Shannon are true Hall of Famers on the field and in front of the camera. As they pursue other professional opportunities, we thank them for their hard work and dedication and wish them nothing but the best.”
Gonzalez will join James Brown, Boomer Esiason and Bill Cowher on the show, which trailed FOX in the ratings (4.8 million to 3.3 million weekly). Sports Business Daily reported another analyst would be added to the show, but a deal had yet to be completed.
Gonzalez is a future Hall of Famer who played 17 seasons with the Chiefs and Falcons. This would seem to end any possibility of Gonzalez coming back for an 18th season. During Super Bowl week, he floated the idea of un-retiring for a contender midseason, if the opportunity presented itself.
“Having just stepped off the playing field, Tony brings a fresh and insightful perspective,” McManus said.
“As a future Hall of Famer, we are excited for him to share his knowledge, experiences and opinions with our viewers. Tony was one of the most respected and hardworking players in the NFL and a tremendous teammate. We look forward to him bringing these attributes to CBS Sports.”