In a major shakeup, former NFL quarterback Matt Ryan has been named the newest member of the CBS Sports team as a studio analyst on NFL Today. This announcement comes after the departure of longtime analysts Phil Simms and Boomer Esiason, who had been with the show for 22 and 19 years respectively.
Ryan, who won the 2016 NFL MVP award and was a four-time Pro Bowl quarterback, had already joined CBS Sports last season as an NFL game analyst and made appearances in the studio during the playoffs and Super Bowl. He will now be joining James Brown, Nate Burleson, Bill Cowher, and JJ Watt as part of the NFL Today crew.
CBS Sports president and CEO David Berson expressed his excitement about having Ryan on board, praising his performance and teamwork. “Matt is an excellent addition to our team,” he said. “He has a proven track record of success both on the field and in the broadcast booth.”
Simms and Esiason’s contracts had expired after the Super Bowl, with both of them having had lengthy careers at CBS Sports. Simms moved to the studio in 2017 after being the lead game analyst since 1998. Esiason, on the other hand, had been on NFL Today for 22 years, making him the show’s longest-tenured analyst. Despite leaving the show, Esiason will continue to work on a New York sports talk radio show simulcast on CBS Sports Network.
Ryan’s impressive career stats speak for themselves; he ranks in the top 10 in NFL history in categories like passing yards, touchdowns, completions, and attempts. This move marks the first significant change under Berson, who recently took over following the retirement of chairman Sean McManus. CBS Sports expressed gratitude to Simms and Esiason for their contributions and dedication to