NFL Fans Revolt Over Nate Burleson’s Potential New Role At CBS
Nate Burleson has big plans at CBS, and not everyone is on board. The former NFL receiver has made it clear he eventually wants the top chair at “The NFL Today,” and his comments sparked plenty of pushback online.
Burleson joined CBS Sports as a studio analyst back in 2017 and has since become a fixture of the network, co-hosting “CBS Mornings” since 2021 while also serving on the NFL pregame desk. It’s a rise that echoes the network shakeup after Phil Simms left CBS Sports a few years ago, which opened the door for younger voices like Burleson to step forward.
Nate Burleson Explains His Plan for “The NFL Today”
Burleson insists he isn’t trying to rush anyone out. He wants current host James Brown to stay as long as possible before he takes over.
“I want James Brown around for as long as I can have him,” Burleson told Front Office Sports. “I have learned so much, I wouldn’t be the person I am on-camera if it wasn’t for J.B. So, selfishly, I want to keep learning from one of the greatest to ever do it. And I don’t want a call from anybody else if I ever get that seat. I want J.B. to call me.”
That patience matters, since James Brown has shown no interest in stepping away yet despite his age and years of retirement chatter. Once Burleson’s comments went public, fans flooded social media with complaints.
“Oh God please no,” one fan wrote, adding that Burleson’s outfits and takes already push them toward other networks.
Another fan said they “suffered through March Madness with him as host” and dreaded a repeat on NFL Sundays.
CBS Appears to be Grooming Nate Burleson for a Bigger Role
The backlash hasn’t slowed CBS down. Earlier this year, Burleson filled in for Ernie Johnson as host of March Madness coverage, a stint that many viewed as an audition. According to Front Office Sports’ Ryan Glasspiegel, that assignment was essentially a test of whether Burleson could eventually run “The NFL Today.”
Burleson has built a reputation for delivering strong moments on live television before, including a memorable Super Bowl score prediction that nailed the exact final result. Whether that on-air sharpness translates into hosting duties remains to be seen, but CBS clearly sees enough potential to keep testing him in bigger roles.
For now, nothing is official, and Brown remains the face of “The NFL Today.” But between the network’s recent moves and Burleson’s own comments, it’s clear the succession plan is already taking shape, whether fans are ready for it or not.
NFL Fans Revolt Over Nate Burleson’s Potential New Role At CBS
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