However, doing the show in California gives it a different vibe. Gonzalez said he felt too mechanical and formal at times at CBS, which has its coverage based in New York.

After retiring in 2014, Gonzalez spent three years at CBS on “The NFL Today” before moving to Fox. Gonzalez can empathize with the growing process that Vick is going through. There’s still a lot of room to grow, but I feel like I am opening up more about analyzing the game.” “Now my focus has been on getting straight to the point or going over the audience (with terms or information). Some guys are born to play media and I was born to play football,” he said. “The coolest part has been learning my way thru the entire process. For the first three years, Vick would stay and watch games with Thompson to discuss what happened on the show. Thompson said seeing Vick continuing to make improvements as an analyst has been one of the more enjoyable parts of the show. She’s nimble, naturally sidewalk funny and has great timing,” Cowherd said. “She’s as talented as someone I can work with. “It is a great mix and everyone has got their niche,” Wannstedt said.Ĭowherd said the consistency in cast, along with Thompson as host, has allowed the show to hit its stride. Vick and Tony Gonzalez were added in 2017, with Schrager moving to the studio from sideline analyst in 2018. Thompson and Colin Cowherd joined a year later, when it moved to Fox. Former Bears and Dolphins coach Dave Wannstedt, who has been on the show since it was on Fox Sports 1 in 2014, has the longest tenure.

I’m just happy we’re talking football.Īnother thing that has helped this year is that the lineup has remained the same going on four seasons. The changes are part of the fabric of 2020. “In a year of constant changes, the difference is a few seats. “We have a bigger desk but the setup looks familiar,” Thompson said.

The only exception came one Sunday in November, when most of the Kickoff cast was sidelined due to COVID-19 concerns. While “Fox NFL Sunday” has done the majority of its shows from a temporary outdoor Los Angeles set, the “Fox NFL Kickoff” setup has remained in its usual studio. Host Charissa Thompson said her biggest concern before the season was if they would be able to work out of the studio. Hopefully this situation is temporary,” he said. Sometimes people are not as comfortable doing things in person. “For the players, it is convenient for them and it’s a cool way to reconnect. Michael Vick said the one thing missing from not being able to visit teams is not being able to sit down with coaches or other players, but that they are still trying to get as much information as they can. “There was also an interview with Russell Wilson where we got more out of it than any other interview with him.” But because they players have had months of meetings and interviews on Zoom, they are just as proficient,” Fox analyst Peter Schrager said. “Without being able to be there I thought it would hinder getting truth and authenticity. The best example came in early October when Fox’s Terry Bradshaw had a revealing interview with Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger in which both sides seemed to bury the hatchet after years of animosity. Since both shows share the same production staff, some features and interviews will air in two parts across both shows.ĭoing the interviews remotely in some cases ended up better, instead of under the bright lights in a team complex.

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