In a logical and expected move, NBC has cast Maria Taylor as the next host of its flagship NFL studio show. Football Night in America.
Taylor had previously been on the show last year after leaving ESPN for NBC, working as a co-host alongside Drew Brees. Taylor replaces Mike Tirico, who is now in the Sunday night football stand alongside Cris Collinsworth. That means this announcement is tied to the NFL’s seemingly endless broadcast changes this offseason.
NBC broke the news in a fairly standard version:
Maria Taylor is the new host of Football night in Americathe most-watched studio show in sports, NBC Sports announced today. Football evening is NBC Sports’ flagship studio show, preceding Sunday night football – #1 primetime TV show for an unprecedented 11 consecutive years – every week during the NFL season. Taylor debuted on the program as a co-host in 2021.
NBC Sports Executive Producer Sat Flood“Maria is the perfect choice to carry on the legacy of anchoring the most-watched studio show in sports.”
Over the past 12 months, Taylor – who was named one of the “most powerful women in sports” of 2021 by Advertising week – has hosted many of the most watched sporting events and programs. After her move to NBC Sports in July 2021, she hosted the Tokyo Olympics, Super Bowl LVI Pre-Game Showand Beijing Olympics and Paralympics.
There is one funny line, however, worth pointing out because this is a sub-tweet the likes of which you’ll never see in any network’s press releases, whether intentional or not. :
Just prior to joining NBC Sports, she also hosted the network’s prime-time broadcast of the NFL Draft and NBA Finals.
Just before, indeed!
Taylor is obviously a talented host, and she’s navigated a pretty impossible set of circumstances over the past year. Jumping straight into NBC’s coverage of the Beijing Olympics and then the NFL season would be a lot for any professional, let alone coming straight after leaving ESPN and all that that entailed.
[NBC]