Behind The Mic: Phil Simms Heads to NBC Sports' Big Ten College Football Booth on Peacock; Rich Eisen Makes Surprise Return to SportsCenter' By SVG Staff Thursday, August 21, 2025 - 7:45 am
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Behind The Mic provides a roundup of recent news regarding on-air talent, including new deals, departures, and assignments compiled from press releases and reports around the industry. In this week's edition, ESPN re-signs two notables in the NFL, Phil Simms returns NBC in their college football booth, and more.
Phil Simms Returns to NBC Sports to Call Big Ten Football Games Live on Peacock This Fall Phil Simms, Super Bowl XXI MVP and 15-year NFL quarterback, will return to NBC Sports three decades after making his NBC broadcast debut on NFL games in 1995, to serve as a game analyst on multiple Big Ten football games exclusively on Peacock this fall.
Simms will be on the call for NBC Sports' college football season-opener on Friday, Aug. 29, as the Illinois Fighting Illini host the Western Illinois Leathernecks at 7:30 p.m. ET exclusively on Peacock. The following weekend, Simms will call Miami (OH) visiting Rutgers on Saturday, Sept. 6, at 3:30 p.m. ET on Peacock. Simms will also serve as the game analyst on a third game this season, which will be announced at a later date. Simms will call each of the Peacock-exclusive games alongside NBC Sports play-by-play voice Paul Burmeister.
I am very happy to be working again for NBC Sports doing college football games, says Simms. I have had a great relationship with Paul Burmeister over many years so I know it going to be fun and exciting to work with him. I appreciate NBC for giving me this opportunity and I can't wait for the college football season to start.
Simms returns to NBC Sports after serving as an NFL game analyst from 1995-98, alongside Dick Enberg and Paul Maguire, including calling Super Bowls XXX and XXXII on NBC. He also announced weightlifting events for NBC Sports' coverage of the 1996 Atlanta Olympics and served as a sideline reporter for the NBA on NBC.
We're excited to welcome Phil back to the NBC Sports team, says Sam Flood, Executive Producer, NBC Sports. Phil is an elite analyst who gives the viewers the why of the game, while making sure to entertain. We are looking forward to having him back on the call for Peacock.
Throughout his distinguished broadcasting career, Simms spent 26 seasons with CBS Sports as an NFL game and studio analyst (1998-2023), calling multiple Super Bowls as part of the network's lead announce team.
Meet the On-Air Talent for the First Live NFL Game on YouTube At YouTube, we're all about bringing fans closer to the action and the creators they love. Now, we're taking that to one of the biggest stages in sports. On September 5th, we'll be exclusively broadcasting our first-ever live NFL game as the reigning AFC champion Kansas City Chiefs take on the Los Angeles Chargers from S o Paulo, Brazil.
To make the first-ever live NFL game on YouTube, the Kanas City Chiefs vs. Los Angeles Chargers from S o Paulo, Brazil, a truly unforgettable event, the streamer is building a broadcast team that blends seasoned NFL broadcasters and legendary players with some of the world's favorite creators.
Leading the live broadcast will be Emmy-nominated host Rich Eisen handling play-by-play, joined by game analyst and Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Kurt Warner. Veteran NFL rules expert Terry McAulay will also be in the booth to provide insight on officiating and penalties throughout the game. Veteran sideline correspondent Stacey Dales will be teaming up with YouTube sensation Deestroying, who will bring his signature energy and unique insights from his journey as a former kicker to the sidelines of Corinthians Arena.
For the Spanish-speaking audience, the game will feature play-by-play from Ren Giraldo and color commentary from former NFL kicker Edgar Lopez.
Prior to the start of the game, the pregame show will broadcast live from two locations for a truly comprehensive experience. On-site in S o Paulo, sports media personality Kay Adams will be joined by Heisman Trophy winner and former NFL MVP Cam Newton. Meanwhile, from the NFL Network's Los Angeles studios, NFL Legends Derek Carr, Brandon Marshall, and Tyrann Mathieu will join fantasy football analyst Peter Overzet for a dynamic, podcast-style conversation to break down all the angles.
After the final whistle, stick around for the postgame show. Adams and Newton will be back with expert analysis and highlights, Dales will have interviews with players and coaches from the field, and Deestroying will share his experience from this historic night.
NBC Sports Kicks Off College Football Season on Aug. 29 With Announced Broadcast Teams NBC Sports, which will present more than 25 Big Ten and Notre Dame Football games this season across NBC and Peacock, including four Peacock-exclusive games in the first three weeks, has named its 2025 college football announce teams.
Big Ten Saturday Night
Noah Eagle (play-by-play), former Penn State quarterback Todd Blackledge (analyst), and Kathryn Tappen (sideline reporter) return to Big Ten Saturday Night and will call all Saturday primetime games this season. Eagle, Blackledge, and Tappen return for their third season together, with Blackledge beginning his 32nd season calling college football games. The trio will call Associated Press preseason No. 14 Michigan hosting New Mexico in the season debut of Big Ten Saturday Night on NBC and Peacock on Aug. 30 at 7:30 p.m. ET.
Notre Dame Football
NBC Sports' unprecedented 35th season broadcasting Notre Dame Football features veteran play-by-play voice Dan Hicks, analyst Jason Garrett, and reporter Zora Stephenson as the announce team. Hicks returns for his sec
