NFL Industry Insiders Aren’t Worried as Color Commentator Salaries Decline

A changing broadcast market

The NFL broadcaster market has seen several major moves. CBS replaced Tony Romo with J.J. Watt, Prime Video re-signed Kirk Herbstreit, and ESPN began preparing for a possible split with Troy Aikman.

Those changes are expected to lower spending on top analysts. CBS will save $5-6 million by switching to Watt, while ESPN could save a similar amount if it replaces Aikman with Fox’s Greg Olsen after his contract expires. Amazon is also staying with a lower-cost approach rather than pursuing a more NFL-focused name.

Insiders expect a rebound

After speaking with a dozen industry sources and agents, Puck’s John Ourand reported that no one is panicking about the shrinking market. One executive told Ourand, “We all view this as a temporary reprieve.” The executive pointed to Cris Collinsworth’s NBC role as a possible trigger for renewed competition. Collinsworth is 67, and his contract expires after the 2030 Super Bowl. Herbstreit’s deal also gives Amazon an option to pursue a major name such as Sean McVay or Travis Kelce.

Big contracts face scrutiny

The large deals awarded to Romo and Tom Brady earlier this decade may lead networks to question whether they can recover the cost. Ourand reported that Aikman’s interest in a salary near Brady’s $37.5 million annual pay contributed to stalled negotiations with ESPN.

Openings elsewhere could keep agents optimistic. If Olsen leaves Fox, the network may need an analyst for its No. 2 booth, which calls playoff games most seasons. CBS could also have a vacancy depending on Ross Tucker’s performance, as networks continue to adjust their analyst rosters.

Streaming could lift offers

Agents also see potential in a future full-season game package for a streamer or technology company, which could bring larger announcer budgets. A media executive told Ourand that Netflix might consider a recognizable figure such as Peyton or Kelce instead of Luke Kuechly if it acquired such a package.

These salary shifts are unfolding amid wider media contraction. Audiences are moving toward YouTube, streaming and social media, while legacy companies face mergers and layoffs as they seek to satisfy investors. Even so, the strength of current NFL analysts is helping industry leaders believe top broadcast roles can still command strong pay.