Read in Browser [[link removed]]

Afternoon Edition

May 12, 2025

The Cowboys are 50-to-1 to win Super Bowl LX at most sportsbooks. One clear indication that America’s Team remains a draw, though: They’ll face the rival Eagles in the first game of the next NFL season.

— Eric Fisher [[link removed]], David Rumsey [[link removed]], and Colin Salao [[link removed]]

NFL Taps Cowboys-Eagles Rivalry to Launch 2025 Season [[link removed]]

Tim Heitman-Imagn Images

The Eagles’ defense of their Super Bowl LIX title will begin against America’s Team.

NBC Sports announced its coverage plans Monday morning for the league’s Sept. 4 kickoff game from Lincoln Financial Field featuring a Cowboys-Eagles clash. As has been the league’s custom for more than two decades, the defending Super Bowl champion opens the NFL’s season with a primetime showcase at home, and the game in Philadelphia will feature a matchup involving one of the league’s top rivalries.

The kickoff game is the start of a series of announcements planned over the next two days of key games involving each of the NFL’s domestic media-rights holders. Part of Tuesday’s planned unveilings will include the 2025 schedule of international contests led in part by a Sept. 5 game in São Paulo involving the Chiefs and Chargers that will be shown on YouTube [[link removed]].

Those announcements will culminate with the release of the full 2025 regular-season schedule Wednesday night. That slate will feature a series of notable changes [[link removed]] from last year, including an expanded presence of both international and Christmas games, and additional latitude for flex scheduling into Amazon’s Thursday Night Football.

The NFL’s focus on maximizing the audience for every one of its 272 regular-season games also comes after a 2% decline in regular-season ratings in 2024 [[link removed]].

Speculation on which of the Eagles’ eight 2025 home opponents would be in the kickoff game, among both fans and the league’s media partners, began immediately after the team’s overwhelming victory [[link removed]] over the Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX.

Though the Eagles’ 2025 home schedule features other major opponents and 2024 playoff teams such as the Broncos, Commanders, Lions, and Rams, the selection of the Cowboys to start the season leans in to decades of history between Philadelphia and Dallas. Though recently supplanted by the Chiefs as the league’s top viewership draw [[link removed]], the Cowboys still are a major attraction nationally.

The team has also been in the midst of a significant transition with its roster, most recently bringing in wide receiver George Pickens following a trade with the Steelers.

FRONT OFFICE SPORTS LIVE

Thank You to Our Partners

Last Thursday, as an extension of the Mizuho Americas Open, Excel Sports Management and Front Office Sports introduced the Breaking Barriers Summit [[link removed]], presented by Versant Health and Delta Air Lines.

Inspired by the excellence, resilience, and ambition seen in women’s golf, this exclusive event united trailblazers and changemakers for meaningful conversations about leadership, innovation, and empowerment. We heard from industry leaders like Liz Moore and Betsy Morgan, as well as athletes including Michelle Wie West, Sheryl Swoopes, Ali Krieger, and Laurie Hernandez.

Through dynamic panel discussions and networking opportunities, the summit fostered collaboration among industry leaders, inspiring the next generation of women in business.

Learn more about the Breaking Barriers summit here [[link removed]].

Super Bowl, NBA, Olympics Drive NBC Toward Billion-Dollar February [[link removed]]

Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

There is plenty of hype around NBC Sports’s programming plans for February 2026, but also some very real expectations and serious financial implications for what now stands as one of the most important moments in network history.

NBC Sports was already planning for one of the most significant confluences in modern sports media history [[link removed]], with Super Bowl LX, the Milan-Cortina Olympics, and the 2026 NBA All-Star Game all happening on the network over 17 days next winter. Parent company NBCUniversal, however, took those expectations to the stratosphere Monday in an upfront presentation to advertisers in New York, calling those events a foundation of “the greatest collection of content that has ever been assembled by one media company.”

“Sports is definitely having a moment in the industry,” said Mark Marshall, NBCUniversal chairman of global advertising and partnerships. “As some sports are moving to streaming, and other platforms are adding a game or two to their schedule, this idea of sports and streaming is not new to us. In fact, Peacock was built on sports.”

Beyond talking points, however, there is some real heft behind the boasts. NBC Sports is buttressing its NBA coverage with a series of new features on Peacock [[link removed]] and is bringing back basketball legend Michael Jordan [[link removed]] as a “special contributor” for the NBA coverage. The network also brought Spurs center Victor Wembanyama to the upfront to help tout the forthcoming coverage. The league is also actively considering another retooling of the format of the forthcoming All-Star Game in Los Angeles.

The NFL coverage will start with a significant draw of the defending champion Eagles and divisional rival Cowboys [[link removed]] for the kickoff game Sept. 4, continue with Sunday Night Football that is seeking a 15th straight season as the most-watched program in U.S. primetime television, and then include an exclusive stream on Peacock during Week 17 of the regular season. That latter game, a Saturday matchup on Dec. 27, is being branded as the “Peacock Holiday Exclusive” and serves as another important forerunner to Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara, Calif.

The 2026 Olympic Games, meanwhile, stand to benefit from a six-hour time difference between the U.S. East Coast and Italy that is much more favorable than the last two Winter Olympics, each held in Asia.

The Big Money

Back in February, Fox grossed more than $800 million [[link removed]] just from Super Bowl LIX, which drew the best-ever audience on U.S. television [[link removed]]. Putting the three major events together, NBCUniversal and its parent company are positioned to generate well into the 10 figures in gross advertising revenue.

Comcast was already increasingly leaning in to its sports portfolio [[link removed]] to buttress the company, as some of its core connectivity products fall under increased pressure.

Next year, meanwhile, will be the 100th anniversary of the NBC broadcast network, something the company plans to lean in to heavily.

EXCLUSIVE

ESPN Extends Berman Through 50th Year, Super Bowl

Chris Berman has signed a new, multiyear deal with ESPN that will carry him through the network’s first Super Bowl broadcast in 2027 and his 50th year with the company, sources tell Front Office Sports.

You can read Michael McCarthy’s exclusive story on Chris Berman’s new deal here [[link removed]].

For all of our sports media news, insights, and interviews, you can subscribe to the twice-weekly “Tuned In” newsletter here [[link removed]].

Michael Jordan Joins NBC As Network Goes All In on ’90s Nostalgia [[link removed]]

Arizona Republic

His Airness is back—again.

More than 30 years after Michael Jordan announced his return as an NBA player with the famous two-word statement, “I’m back,” the former superstar and NBC Sports used a similar structure to unveil his involvement with the network as a “special contributor.”

Jordan will be part of NBC Sports’s NBA coverage as it regains live rights to the league this fall after a 23-year absence. The network made the announcement Monday morning at an upfront presentation to advertisers in New York.

NBC Sports did not detail exactly how much Jordan will be involved on air, but the role and the designation as a “special contributor” would appear to be less extensive than the most obvious parallel: Fox Sports’s weekly use of NFL icon Tom Brady as its No. 1 game analyst.

The retaining of Jordan, however, dips heavily into 1990s nostalgia, a heyday for NBC Sports’s prior NBA coverage and on the network on which the Jordan-led Bulls won each of their six NBA titles. Among several post-playing basketball endeavors, Jordan most recently was the Hornets owner, but he sold the franchise in 2023.

“Sorry I can’t be with you,” Jordan said in a brief, taped statement at the upfront. “The NBA on NBC was a meaningful part of my career, and I’m excited about being a special contributor to the project. I’m looking forward to seeing you all when the NBA on NBC launches this fall.”

The Jordan announcement adds to NBC Sports’s presentation at the upfront of its extensive NBA plans on Peacock [[link removed]].

FRONT OFFICE SPORTS TODAY NBA Draft Lottery: Cooper Flagg Will Change Everything

FOS illustration

The winner of the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft lottery will receive a golden ticket for the next sure thing in Cooper Flagg … or perhaps Giannis Antetokounmpo? Baker Machado and Renee Washington discuss the implications of Monday night’s event and why some teams with the top odds may be better off using Flagg as a trade chip for an established superstar.

Plus, ESPN’s Matt Miller explains why mock drafts in the NFL mean just as much to teams as they do to fans. Also, Michael Jordan is joining NBC’s NBA coverage, the NFL season starts with a bang, and President Trump agrees to temporarily slash tariffs on Chinese goods.

Listen to the full episode here [[link removed]].

STATUS REPORT Two Up, Two Down

Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Rich Eisen ⬆ The veteran sports anchor is returning to ESPN [[link removed]], The Athletic reported Monday. The Rich Eisen Show will move from Roku to ESPN’s new direct-to-consumer product in the fall. Eisen worked for ESPN from 1996 until 2003.

Braves ⬆ The MLB club, the league’s only publicly traded franchise, said its first-quarter revenue rose 27% to $47.2 million, while its adjusted operating income improved 15% to a loss of $28.5 million. While all of the quarter occurred before the start of the Braves’ home schedule, several other factors contributed to the improved revenue, including two Savannah Bananas games at Truist Park. Braves chairman Terry McGuirk, as he did a quarter ago, [[link removed]] expressed confidence in not only the club’s own business model but also MLB’s ability to reach new media-rights deals and a new labor agreement with the MLB Players Association. “We have a business model that works very well,” McGuirk said. “It is driven by multiple revenue streams supporting baseball and our growing mixed-use real estate development.”

Bud Black ⬇ The Rockies let go of their manager and bench coach Mike Redmond [[link removed]] on Sunday, a day after the team fell 21–0 to the Padres at home. Colorado would avenge the loss by beating San Diego, 9–3, on Sunday. However, the win moved the Rockies’ overall record to just 7–33 this season, a .175 winning percentage on pace to break the White Sox’ MLB futility record (41–121, .253) from last season.

PGA Championship ⬇ Fans were not allowed on the course [[link removed]] for Monday’s practice round at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, due to inclement weather. Ticket holders can attend Tuesday’s or Wednesday’s practice round instead.

Conversation Starters Carmelo Anthony delivered the commencement speech at Syracuse, his alma mater. Watch it here [[link removed]]. The Rays, who played their first 27 years inside the domed Tropicana Field, had their first rain delay in franchise history at George M. Steinbrenner Field, their temporary home. The team gave fans commemorative ponchos. Take a look [[link removed]]. NiJaree Canady, who Texas Tech landed with an NIL (name, image, and likeness) deal worth more than $1 million, led the Red Raiders softball team to their first Big 12 regular-season and tournament titles. Check it out [[link removed]]. Editors’ Picks Giannis Antetokounmpo ‘Open-Minded’ to Leaving Bucks: Report [[link removed]]by Alex Schiffer [[link removed]]The Bucks star has spent his entire 12-year career with the organization. Sheryl Swoopes: A’ja Wilson Shoe Campaign Shows Nike Sea Change [[link removed]]by Annie Costabile [[link removed]]Nike released the Air Swoopes in 1995. NBC Will Heat Up Its NBA Coverage to Boost Peacock [[link removed]]by Eric Fisher [[link removed]]The league’s return to NBC arrives with a series of new features. Advertise [[link removed]] Awards [[link removed]] Learning [[link removed]] Events [[link removed]] Video [[link removed]] Shows [[link removed]] Written by Eric Fisher [[link removed]], David Rumsey [[link removed]], Colin Salao [[link removed]] Edited by Matthew Tabeek [[link removed]], Or Moyal [[link removed]], Catherine Chen [[link removed]]

If this email was forwarded to you, you can subscribe here [[link removed]].

Update your preferences [link removed] / Unsubscribe [link removed]

Copyright © 2025 Front Office Sports. All rights reserved.

460 Park Avenue South, 7th Floor, New York NY, 10016