CBS Sports recently announced the addition of Matt Ryan to their NFL Today crew as a studio analyst. This news comes after the departure of longtime analysts Phil Simms and Boomer Esiason, who had been with the show for 22 and 15 years respectively. Ryan, who won the NFL MVP award in 2016 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.
As part of the NFL Today crew, Ryan will join James Brown, Nate Burleson, Bill Cowher, and JJ Watt. This move marks a significant change under CBS Sports president David Berson, who took over following the retirement of chairman Sean McManus. Berson expressed his excitement about having Ryan on board, praising his performance and teamwork.
Ryan’s impressive career stats place him in the top 10 in NFL history in categories like passing yards, touchdowns, completions, and attempts. Simms and Esiason’s contracts had expired after the Super Bowl, with both having had lengthy careers at CBS Sports. Despite leaving the show, Esiason will continue to work on a New York sports talk radio show simulcast on CBS Sports Network.
CBS Sports thanked Simms and Esiason for their contributions and dedication to the network over the years, setting a standard of excellence for NFL analysts. This move by Berson is an indication that he is committed to maintaining that standard while also bringing fresh perspectives to the table.
