NBC is reportedly planning to offer Sunday Night Football analyst Cris Collinsworth a massive extension that will keep him employed through the 2029-30 NFL season, the Athletic's Andrew Marchand reported on Thursday (September 19).

Collinsworth, 65, is expected to sign a four-year extension, which would include serving as the color commentator for two Super Bowls scheduled to broadcast on NBC in 2026 and 2030. The network reportedly believes the veteran NFL analyst "is still the best in the game" and the extension would secure his place on the network's primetime game for several more years.

The extension is expected to put Collinsworth closer to several of his industry counterparts, having previously signed a $12.5 million, which is less than the $18 million deals CBS' Tony Romo and ESPN's Troy Aikman signed, as well as the outlier 10-year, $37.5 million Tom Brady signed to join FOX Sports. Collinsworth, who has been paired with play-by-play man Mike Tirico since Al Michaels' departure to Amazon Prime last season, is currently signed through Super Bowl LX in 2026.

The Athletic also speculated that NBC would've had potential interest in Emmy winner Greg Olsen, who was demoted to FOX Sports' No. 2 team upon Brady's arrival, Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay or Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin as replacements if Collinsworth's deal ended without an extension. Collinsworth, the owner of the football analytics website Pro Football Focus, and Tirico are scheduled to call the Sunday Night Football game between the Kansas City Chiefs (2-0) and Atlanta Falcons (1-1) at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Week 3.

Vicki McKenna

Wisconsin Election Integrity Forum