Phil Simms has no plans on slowing down following his shocking ouster from “The NFL Today,” but he believes there are more probable opportunities for him in the broadcasting space than others.
When speaking this week to Front Office Sports, Simms — who was cut Monday from CBS’ NFL studio show, along with Boomer Esiason, as the program undergoes a cast overhaul with the additions of Matt Ryan and JJ Watt — said he “would love” if another TV role opened up, although “given his age, and the state of the business,” as FSO noted, the former Giants quarterback, 68, “wonders if that’s realistic.”
“Of course, I would love that. But that’s not going to happen. You know that — and I know that,” said Simms, who had a 26-year run at CBS Sports.
In the wake of Simms’ and Esiason’s departures, conversations stirred in the sports media community about whether their ages factored into the decision-making, as speculated publicly by Michael Kay.
“Boomer’s been there 22 years, Phil 26 years,” Kay said Tuesday on his ESPN Radio show, according to Awful Announcing.
“I hope CBS buttoned everything up. Because if you’re getting rid of guys just because of their age, you’re going to get yourself in trouble. Can’t fire somebody because of their age.”
Though the network parted ways with Esiason, who celebrated his 63rd birthday last month, they retained former Steelers coach Bill Cowher, 66, and host James Brown, 73, whom Kay suggested CBS could point to as a counterargument.
Rumblings of a shakeup were first reported in January by Andrew Marchand, formerly of The Post, with Simms’ contract expiring after CBS’ Super Bowl 2024 coverage in February.
At the time, Simms said, “I don’t know what I’ll do if I don’t go back to CBS. But I’m definitely going to continue to work with or in the NFL — somewhere, somehow, whatever it is. I’m just not going to go, ‘OK, I’m done. I’m retired.’”
Simms, who co-hosts the “Simms Complete” podcast with son Matt, a former Jets quarterback, noted Tuesday, “Like people say, they’re always looking for the next person.”
“I’ve heard they like young people too. OK … Whatever the bosses want, that’s what they do. And I understand that,” the two-time Super Bowl champion said.
With plans to keep up guest radio appearances and his podcast, the NFL commentary will keep coming from Simms as he enters a new phase of his career.
“There’s always tons of things to talk about in the NFL, and I love talking about it. So I’m not going to stop. OK? When I hit 80, I’ll make a decision,” he said.
Simms joined CBS in 1998 and was part of the lead broadcasting team. He was replaced by Tony Romo in 2017 and pivoted to “The NFL Today,” which also features Nate Burleson.
Burleson, the former NFL wide receiver who also co-anchors “CBS Mornings,” is expected to have a more prominent role on the program.