Ex-Steelers HC Bill Cowher Stays Put Amid Shakeup at NFL Today

Rumors over the past couple of weeks floated the idea that CBS could potentially breakup the crew of it’s NFL studio show, The NFL Today and reports on Monday proved that to be the case. While it will continue to exist in its current fashion, there is to be a partial shakeup of the staff and on-air personalities. One face that is set to stick around is former Steelers head coach and Pro Football Hall of Famer Bill Cowher.

Cowher, along with Phil Simms, Boomer Esiason and Nate Burleson, saw their contracts expire following the 2023 NFL season. CBS decided to renew the contracts of Cowher and Burleson but not those of Esiason or Simms.

For Cowher, the 2024 season will be his 17th season as an analyst for the CBS network as he began working on their NFL show following the 2007 NFL season.

As a replacement to Simms and Esiason, the network promoted former Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan to star on the nationally-viewed pregame with host James Brown, Cowher, Burleson and occasionally part-timer J.J. Watt.

The public knew the fates of Esiason and Simms prior to the announcement of Cowher’s return due to their own posts that told of their departure from the network, Cowher’s fate was a bit more in question until Monday afternoon.

On Monday morning, Simms took to X.com to give his farewell announcement and took the classy route in thanking the network and reflecting on his 26-years with CBS.

“Great 26 yrs run with CBS SPORTS,” Simms wrote. “Even though that part of my career is over I look forward to what is next.”

For Esiason, after 22 years with the network, he will shift his focus to his top-rated New York based radio show on WFAN. He added that he signed an extension with WFAN to stay on the station’s morning show.

With Cowher still in the mix, do not expect an entirely different lineup on The NFL Today come the NFL’s opening week in September.