CRIS Collinsworth is one of the NFL’s top broadcasters, and it appears he is going to stay that way for years to come.
Despite complaints from some fans about NFL games Collinsworth calls, he is sticking around NBC sports.
Cris Collinsworth is extending his contract with NBC Sports[/caption]
Collinsworth will be in the Sunday Night Football booth for 20 years by the time his deal is up[/caption]
According to reports from The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand, Collinsworth is set to sign a contract extension to remain with NBC.
This deal would keep him as the lead analyst on NBC Sports all the way to 2030.
The premise of the deal is to keep Collinsworth alongside play-by-play announcer Mike Tirico until they can call Super Bowl LXIV together in 2030.
By the time his extension is through, Collinsworth would have spent over 20 years in the Sunday Night Football booth and be over 70 years old.
While Collinsworth’s deal with NBC was nearing its end, it was probably unlikely that the network was going to do anything other than extend him.
Turnover in top broadcasting booths is extremely rare, and most announcers don’t lose their job for poor performance.
The most recent instance of an announcer losing their job was Greg Olsen on Fox NFL, losing his spot to Tom Brady.
Collinsworth getting his contract likely had the biggest effect on Olsen, as he is still aiming to return to a No. 1 spot in the broadcasting booth.
NBC seemed like a prime opportunity, but Collinsworth returning puts a wrench in that plan.
“My goals and aspirations, if anything, have even gotten more committed to I want to call top games,” Olsen said after being demoted to Fox’s No. 2 team.
“I want to call games in front of 57 million people and dive into the biggest moments…where that is, how that is, when that is, I don’t know.
“There are so many moving parts out of my control. But my goal is to be a top A broadcaster again.
“I’m gonna do everything in my power to achieve that.”
Olsen is a Sports Emmy winner and a fan favorite in the broadcast booth, but his voice has been muted by Brady taking over the top spot.
He also has limited opportunities, with many networks’ top talents being under contract for years to come.
NFL important dates
August 1 – Hall of Fame Game – Houston Texans vs Chicago Bears
August 8 – Pre-season begins
August 27 – Deadline for 53-man rosters
September 1 – Final day of pre-season
September 5 – Season opener – Baltimore Ravens vs Kansas City Chiefs
November 5 – Trade deadline
January 5 – Week 18 of regular-season
January 11 – Playoffs begin
February 9 – Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans, Louisiana
ESPN, NBC, Fox, and CBS have color commentators under contract through 2027.
The only network that doesn’t have their color commentator’s contract listed publicly is Prime Video.
Olsen has a tough track getting back to a No. 1 spot, but fans continue to make their voice heard, asking for him to return to the spotlight.
“Greg Olsen on the game is incredible,” one fan said.
“We all know Greg Olsen is #1,” another fan said.
“I think greg olsen is the best in the biz,” a third fan said.
Collinsworth’s new deal leaves Greg Olsen with no opportunities for a top job[/caption]
