What Russell Wilson, Kyle Long can bring to new-look ‘NFL Today’ on CBS

Analyzing potential future analysis could be fool’s errand, but with Russell Wilson and Kyle Long joining CBS’ storied NFL Sunday pregame studio show “The NFL Today,” the Sunday morning viewing experience will look different in 2026.

The duo will join the team that includes host James Brown and analysts Nate Burleson and Bill Cowher.

Wilson, who said goodbye to football without ever saying the word “retired” in a three-minute video posted June 3, goes straight from the playing field to the desk. Long received a promotion from CBS’ Sunday morning programming that aired on CBS Sports, “That Other Pregame Show,” and “The NFL TODAY+.”

A Super Bowl champion with the Seattle Seahawks, Wilson has long-positioned himself for a role in media once his post-playing days arrived. He worked for CBS last season during the New York Giants’ bye week. Wilson ended his 14-year career with a season in New York (he started three games before being benched), one with the Pittsburgh Steelers (2024), two with the Denver Broncos (2022-23) after the first 10 with the Seahawks.

Wilson replaces departed quarterback Matt Ryan, who left the show to become the president of football for the Atlanta Falcons. The 37-year-old has crossover fame to other parts of pop culture by proxy of his marriage to singer Ciara, and surely CBS’ producers are figuring out ways to leverage that.

Wilson should have the benefit of competing recently, and his various stops toward the end of his career means he formed relationships with players across the league. “The NFL Today” would be wise to set Wilson up with some 1-on-1 interviews in which he can relate to a quarterback or coach about a shared experience.

By the end of Wilson’s playing career, “Mr. Unlimited” was unable to provide an answer in media sessions that was not riddled with cliché. To be an entertaining analyst, Wilson will have to ditch that – or else he’ll never outrun the accusations of being corny. Nothing comes across worse on TV than a lack of authenticity. Luckily for Wilson, his teammates on the desk should be able to keep him imbued with some semblance of self-awareness.

CBS had shown interest in former Carolina Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly, according to The Athletic, but staying internal with Long was wise. An offensive lineman’s perspective tends to be undervalued on television, but Long has proven himself capable of analyzing trench play in relatable terminology. He can also go into epic storyteller mode, which can be an asset on a program such as “The NFL Today.”

The former guard for the Chicago Bears, Long also represents the next generation of analysts quite literally, as his father – Hall of Famer Howie – has been on FOX’s pregame studio show “FOX NFL Sunday” since its inception in 1994.

“This is everything a boy like me could’ve ever dreamed of, having watched my dad be in the studio, sitting on James Browns’ knee in 1994 at the desk,” Long said during an appearance on “CBS Mornings,” which Burleson co-hosts, alongside Wilson. “I knew this is where I wanted to be and CBS has been awesome and we get to do it every Sunday now.”

CBS isn’t alone in remaking their pregame panel among NFL media partners. NBC said sayonara to Tony Dungy and Chris Simms while adding former Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin, the splashiest hire of the offseason.

Now CBS has countered with a pair of hires. How much the additions actually impact the show is up to the talent.

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Russell Wilson retires after a remarkable NFL career

Nov. 27, 2010: North Carolina State Wolfpack quarterback Russell Wilson (16) is pressured Maryland Terrapins lineman Isaiah Ross (56) at Byrd Stadium. Wilson played three seasons at NC State before transferring to Wisconsin.

(Mitch Stringer, US PRESSWIRE)