The 2025 NFL offseason's top sports media storylines

The 2025 NFL offseason’s top sports media storylines

Posted by author February 12, 2025 NFL

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What’s next for Erin Andrews?

This year’s sports media free agent sports media class might not be as high profile as last year’s featuring Jason Kelce, Bill Belichick, and Nate Burleson, but there are still some significant names whose contracts we already know are coming due. Perhaps the most notable to this point is Erin Andrews, who revealed last fall that her contract at Fox is set to expire following the 2024 season.

After getting her start on a national level at ESPN, Andrews has been at Fox since 2012 and is clearly a valued member of the network. But considering her versatility, ability, and mainstream appeal, one could easily argue that she’s the top sideline reporter in all of sports and that other networks would be more than willing to make room for her on their respective top broadcast teams.

In the nearly 13 years since she first left ESPN for Fox, the University of Florida alum has re-signed with the network at least twice, both times with little fanfare. But the fact that Andrews has already publicly acknowledged her impending free agency could indicate that this time might be different. It will be interesting to see whether she remains at Fox, considers her options elsewhere, and any fallout that may follow.

Orlovsky out?

It didn’t take long for Dan Orlovsky to jumpstart his own free agency.

At the end of Monday’s episode of First Take, the ESPN analyst said he was unsure when he would return to the network’s airwaves.

“You guys know this is the end of the season for me… I’m taking a break, won’t be on TV for a long time,” Orlovsky said. “I just want to say thank you to you guys, Stephen A., Molly [Qerim], Shannon [Sharpe] for a great season. I love you all. You never know what the future holds, but I’m taking a break.”

While the longtime NFL quarterback has become a staple of ESPN’s daily coverage, it would be understandable if he felt he’d done everything he could at the Worldwide Leader. As for potential suitors, Fox made a run at Orlovsky before he re-signed with ESPN in 2022, while the former UConn star has also been open about his desire to one day join the coaching ranks.

End of an era?

Fox NFL Sunday may have extended its streak as the league’s most-watched pregame show to 31 years this past season, but changes appear to be coming to the Sunday staple.

Ahead of Sunday’s Super Bowl, Jimmy Johnson stopped just short of announcing his retirement. Terry Bradshaw has stated that he’d like to make it to Fox’s next Super Bowl in 2029 — when he’ll be 80 years old — but even he admitted that those plans might be “pushing it.”

While there’s always a chance Johnson could return next season, his potential departure would leave an obvious void on the Fox NFL Sunday set — especially if Bradshaw follows suit. One year after CBS’ The NFL Today underwent a makeover with the departures of Boomer Esiason and Phil Simms and the additions of Matt Ryan and J.J. Watt, its Fox counterpart could be forced to follow suit, potentially creating a ripple effect at the network and beyond.

LEGEND.

An incredible look at the career of @JimmyJohnson from his time as a player to now 🏈🤩 pic.twitter.com/QGd3QmJxzi

— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) February 9, 2025

What about Brady?

Tom Brady’s first season in the broadcast booth had its share of ups and even more downs. Nevertheless, all indications have been that he’ll be back in Fox’s No. 1 booth for Year 2 of his 10-year, $375 million contract.

So why is he on this list? Because when it comes to somebody as high profile as Brady, whose fame transcends football, his status is always worth monitoring. Especially considering that his debut campaign rarely drew rave reviews.

While the 7-time Super Bowl champion may have publicly committed to fulfilling his Fox contract, would anybody really be surprised if those plans changed as early as this offseason? And even if they don’t, it will be interesting to see how he navigates the offseason as Fox’s lead analyst and (presumably) takes steps to improve in Year 2 — especially with Greg Olsen still a part of the Fox family (for now).

Kelce Watch 2.0

Before Sunday’s Super Bowl, the NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that the game could be the last of Travis Kelce’s career. And while it’s hard to imagine the future Hall of Fame tight end’s career ending with a four-catch, 39-yard performance in a blowout loss in the Super Bowl, it would hardly be surprising if the 35-year-old ultimately opts to hang ’em up.

If he does, networks will quickly line up, just as they were last offseason when his brother, Jason, ultimately landed a three-year, $24 million deal from ESPN. Presumably, that would also give the Worldwide Leader the inside track to Travis, who would likely command an even bigger contract than his big brother got.

Between his on-field credentials and off-field profile (have you heard he’s dating Taylor Swift?), it’s not a stretch to say that Travis Kelce will be the most sought-after sports media free agent in recent memory. In other words, it won’t just be Chiefs monitoring any potential announcements that the Cleveland Heights native might make in the weeks ahead.

Where’s the NFL Draft heading?

While the NFL’s media rights may be locked in for the foreseeable future, the league does have at least one valuable piece of property due for a new deal. ESPN’s current contract for the NFL Draft will expire after this April’s event, so the league is expected to reach a new deal for the draft in the weeks/months ahead.

According to Puck’s John Ourand, ESPN, Fox, and Google/YouTube all submitted bids for the NFL Draft months ago. The league has yet to decide where the event will air in 2026 and beyond. All indications, however, are that the league will heavily focus on streaming. It’s worth noting that this is the type of one-off event that Netflix has seemingly favored during its recent foray into sports.

That’s not to say the NFL Draft will (or won’t) be a streaming-exclusive event. The league could very well allow different platforms to simultaneously air the draft, as it currently does with ESPN and the NFL Network. But regardless of where it lands, the NFL Draft’s next deal will say plenty about the league’s direction from a media rights perspective.