The Perfect Tribute: CBS Sports’s The NFL Today 50th Anniversary Programming

The classic tune of trumpets sounded and a retro blue frame around an orange football player and the logo for CBS Sports jumped onto televisions at noon on Sunday. The screen cuts to the pre-game scenes of Minneapolis and the voice that brought comfort and excitement to countless American homes says the famous words, “You are looking live!” The opening scenes to Sunday’s The NFL Today provided its viewers with immense nostalgia and honored the birth of pre-game programming in NFL coverage. As Brent Musberger’s voice cascades over the scenes of each early window kickoff stadium, NFL fans realize that this Sunday in the NFL would be a special one. 50 years after the creation of The NFL Today fans of all ages celebrated the legacy of CBS Sports’s programming on September 21st, 2025.

The creativity of the producers, graphic designers, set designers, costume, hair, and makeup personnel at CBS Sports was on full display this past Sunday as CBS paid tribute to its top-tier programming The NFL Today. The classic intro of names rolled out before the set and cast was revealed as a 1975 cosplay program. Green screens to carry the infamous wall of televisions that backdropped the original hosts and 70’s attire for the current panel of NFL media and alums who run the show painted the perfect picture to honor the program. On top of this, the current broadcasters all did their part to travel back in time, wearing classic CBS Sports blazers and using terminology of past times. Even the leading sponsor, Jeep, used old footage and color grading to give a historic feel to their advertisements. This retro theme continued into the 1 o’clock slate of CBS games, as the classic intro and graphics were used between commercials as well as a digital clock appearing on the scorebug for parts of each game.

The first segment did a beautiful job of honoring Brent Musberger’s legacy. James Brown, the current host, spoke to the road Musberger paved for himself and other pre-game show hosts. Matt Ryan (done up with a blonde bowl cut whig and thick stick on mustache) gifted the sports icon with a classic Atlanta Falcons hat. And Jim Nantz, legendary broadcaster and successor of Musberger’s, spoke about the inspiration Brent provided him years before he appeared on television. Of course, it couldn’t be a throwback television program without video failure, which occurred during Jim Nantz’s feature on the program.

In sticking with the past decades theme of the show, Kyle Brandt had a segment where he played a record store manager in 1981. He walked around the store showcasing different albums that were replaced by NFL teams of the 80’s. Of the quips used in Brandt’s comical segment, he poked fun at the Bills stating “they’re winning the whole thing,” claimed that the Baltimore Colts “weren’t going anywhere,” and called the Houston Oilers the “team of the future. (the Oilers and Colts would both relocate in years to come).

What is perhaps the most nostalgic segment of the throwback program involved Brent Musberger analyzing film of 1975 football legends. He discusses the impact of Walter Payton on the Bears, how Bill Walsh was the driving force of success for his team, and Lawrence Taylor’s domination over offensive lines. Musberger’s role in the success of The NFL Today wasn’t the only tribute CBS Sports showcased. They also did a picks segment where they honored Jimmy “The Greek” and made selections on this week’s games. At the end of it, Brent stated that the Chargers were three point favorites and joked that there was “no beating around the bush here” as famously, NFL programs could not discuss gambling lines in Musberger’s days (though “The Greek” would always find ways around the rules to educate the financially interested folk). To further add to the irony of how sports betting has evolved, the picks segment concluded with an ad read from FanDuel, a sportsbook sponsoring the program.

This absolutely outstanding program either brought viewers back to a different age or showcased 70s programming to audiences for the first time. It was very well received and talked about frequently on social media which is impressive on an NFL Sunday where a plethora of headlines circulate across platforms. Other highlights from the program include a montage of moments from Phyllis George, Irv Cross, and Jane Kennedy that followed up with James Brown kicking it to current feature reporter, Tracy Wolfson, who in his words “is carrying the torch [of those pioneers] today.” James Brown also looked at his phone during the program, after receiving a text from Cris Collinsworth, which unintentionally provided a powerful contrast between the 1975 set and modern day technology. CBS Sports’s The NFL Today 50th Anniversary programming achieved the perfect level of sentimentality, entertainment, and distinguishment which were all seen in its closing montage of clips from the past fifty years of programming.

Written by Colby Shannon, Monday September 22nd at 1:52 pm