AMAZON AGREES EXTENSION WITH KIRK HERBSTREIT FOR NFL BOOTH

Amazon Prime Video has agreed a contract extension with Kirk Herbstreit that would keep him in the Thursday Night Football commentary booth beyond the 2026 season, according to a report by Andrew Marchand of The Athletic. The deal reportedly includes a provision allowing Amazon to end the arrangement with Herbstreit if it secures a different commentator for the role. Marchand's report describes the extension as operating on a year-to-year basis, giving Amazon flexibility rather than locking in a fixed long-term commitment. Herbstreit currently combines the Amazon role with college football commentary duties.

The report notes that Amazon previously pursued Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay for the position in early 2022, shortly after McVay's team won the Super Bowl. McVay chose not to leave coaching for the television role at the time, reportedly worth around $20 million per year, and Amazon instead filled the seat with Herbstreit. According to the report, McVay's position on the opportunity changed following a difficult 2022 season for the Rams, but by then the role had already been filled. The extension terms reportedly leave open the possibility that Amazon could still pursue other high-profile figures such as Travis Kelce, Troy Aikman or Greg Olsen for the job in future.

Herbstreit is also in the final year of his contract with ESPN, where he holds a college football commentary role, according to the report. Marchand's report states that ESPN plans to address Herbstreit's contract situation only after the college football season concludes. This means Herbstreit's broadcasting future beyond 2026 remains unresolved across both networks, with outcomes ranging from holding both positions to holding one or neither, according to the report.