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Chris Simms reacted to his ousting in 'Football Night in America' shakeup
We're still four-plus months away from the start of the 2026 NFL season, and NBC is already busy making moves in a major shakeup of Football Night in America.
On Monday, we learned the latest twist in the new-look pregame show. And it meant another departing personality. librea.one
Chris Simms — who joined the network in 2016 — will no longer be a part of the show. This comes after former NFL coach Tony Dungy confirmed he was also not being brought back as NBC added Mike Tomlin as an analyst.
Simms had been a regular analyst on the pregame show, which also includes Maria Taylor, Jason Garrett and Devin McCourty. He spoke about this ousting on PFT Live with Mike Florio. Simms said he was hurt by the decision.
Via The New York Post:
”I don’t know if anyone told you. I will not be part of ‘Football Night in America.’ They told me that last week, so that’s just going to be a different aspect. That hurt because I do love it.”
Though Simms will no longer be on FNIA, he is still being retained for his other roles at NBC. He's part of the network's college football coverage and does podcasting with NBC Sports. Those aren't being impacted. But it's still a huge demotion to be kicked off NBC's flagship NFL show.
Football Night in America will also be on the road for every Sunday Night Football game next season, moving out of the studio setting.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Chris Simms reacts to exit in 'Football Night in America' shakeup
Bobby Wagner’s jersey will be retired by Utah State
One of the greatest players in Utah State football history will have his jersey retired soon.
On Monday, Utah State announced that it will be retiring linebacker Bobby Wagner’s number in a ceremony to be held in 2026 or 2027, depending on Wagner’s schedule.
“Bobby exemplifies what it means to be an Aggie, and this honor is long overdue,” said Utah State athletic director Cameron Walker in a statement. “We are excited to recognize his achievements in a Utah State uniform and all he has accomplished in the NFL and in his community. Retiring his number and displaying it on the side of our press box for current and future Aggies to see is a well-deserved honor to celebrate an amazing football career and a remarkable person.”
Wagner, selected in the second round of the 2012 NFL draft, is one of the league’s most-decorated linebackers. During his 14 years in the league, the majority of which came with the Seattle Seahawks, Wagner amassed six All-Pro selections, 10 Pro Bowls and won Super Bowl XLVIII.
He is currently a free agent.
At Utah State, Wagner was a three-time first-team All-Western Athletic Conference player and helped the Aggies to their first bowl appearance in 24 years and first winning season in 15 years.
Wagner will join Merlin Olsen and Elmer “Bear” Ward as the only Aggies to have their jersey retired by the program.
“I’m truly honored to have my number retired,” said Wagner in a statement. “This is something I could have never imagined. Utah State took a chance on me. They were my only offer and the only school that truly believed in me. They gave me more than just an opportunity to play football. They helped me build a career and provided stability during a difficult time in my life. The coaches, professors, staff and students all played a role in shaping who I am today. I’ll forever be grateful. Go Aggies!”
Penn State coach says offense was poor fit for Drew Allar
The Pittsburgh Steelers’ addition of quarterback Drew Allar was one of the stories of the 2026 NFL Draft, as the Steelers have set up a quarterback battle between the Penn State product and second-year quarterback Will Howard. Regardless of if Aaron Rodgers returns or not, Allar and Howard will both have a chance to prove that they can be the future of the Steelers.
There have been many detractors toward Allar and the Steelers’ decision to draft him, many harping back on his messy footwork and decision-making when the play breaks down. Additionally, he had spotty performances against lesser teams like Villanova in 2025. Those who push back on the struggles point to the Andy Kotelnicki offense being a terrible fit for Allar – and one of Allar’s Penn State coaches agrees.
Joining 93.7 The Fan, Penn State associate head coach Terry Smith says the offense was a bad fit for Allar.
“I’ve been known as the truth teller here at Penn State,” Smith said. “And I think unfairly to Drew, our system wasn’t built for him. It wasn’t made for him. Some of the decisions were taken out of his control.”
Smith became the team’s interim head coach after James Franklin was fired following a loss to Northwestern – the same game in which Allar suffered a season-ending ankle injury. Despite the perceived bad fit, Allar still helped the Nittany Lions make it to the semi-finals of the College Football Playoff in the 2024 season, helping Penn State defeat SMU and Boise State before falling to Notre Dame.
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4-star RB SaRod Baker commits to Texas Tech
DeSoto (Texas) four-star running back SaRod Baker has committed to Texas Tech, he told Rivals’ Hayes Fawcett on Monday.
He chose the Red Raiders over Texas and Texas A&M, among plenty of other high-profile offers.
Baker is the No. 146 overall prospect and No. 6 RB in the 2027 cycle, according to the Rivals Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all major recruiting media companies. He’s also the No. 19 player in Texas.
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The 5-foot-9.5, 195-pounder joins a TTU class that ranks No. 2 in the nation, per the Rivals Industry Team Recruiting Rankings. He becomes commit No. 8 and is the seventh top-200 prospect to join the fold in Lubbock.
“A lot stood out, really,” Baker told Ben Golan of RedRaiderSports.com after visiting TTU earlier this month. “Just me being there was a blessing, first off, and I feel like they treated me like family up there. They welcomed me in with open arms. I was sitting in the running back room, it actually made me seem like I was already at the school. So just them showing me that, I feel like that could be a place that I could be at.”
Baker is coming off a monstrous junior season. Playing for DeSoto, one of the top high school football programs in the nation, he rushed for over 3,000 yards and 41 touchdowns, threw for nearly 500 yards and four scores and also caught 18 passes for 242 yards and two scores, per MaxPreps.
This story will be updated.
Who are Alabama football's early top prospects for 2027 NFL draft?
The 2027 NFL draft is already shaping up to be yet another memorable one for Alabama football.
This past week, Alabama saw a total of 10 players hear their names called during the 2026 NFL draft, headlined by a pair of first round picks in Kadyn Proctor and Ty Simpson.
That number could look similar in 2027 as well, if not even better, as the Crimson Tide have a number of players set to return for the 2026 season who could receive potential first round consideration next year, as well as maybe even Top 10 overall.
Here is an early look at four of Alabama's top 2027 NFL draft prospects.
Ryan Coleman-Williams, Wide Receiver
Coleman-Williams will enter his junior season in Tuscaloosa as one of the top wide receivers in college football. The talented receiver struggled a bit during the 2025 season with drops, but is still one of the most electrifying players in college football with the ball in his hands, and could easily receive first round interest, especially with a bounce-back 2026 campaign.
Yhonzae Pierre, Outside Linebacker
Pierre is one of the headline names who bypassed the 2026 NFL draft in order to return to Alabama next season. A redshirt junior, Pierre is set to be one of college football's top pass rushers during the 2026 season, and will likely be a coveted edge early in the 2027 draft.
Bray Hubbard, Safety
Alabama will have two premier safeties in the 2027 NFL draft in Hubbard and Keon Sabb, the former of which could be a name to know. Similar to Pierre, Hubbard bypassed the 2026 NFL draft in order to return to Alabama next year, a move that could end up benefitting the safety's stock with a potential strong season.
Zabien Brown, Cornerback
Staying in the Crimson Tide secondary, Brown has been one of the SEC's top corners each of the last two seasons. A two-year starter, Brown is likely already cemented among the top corners in the 2027 draft class, and could end up being the first Alabama player off the board next spring.
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This article originally appeared on Roll Tide Wire: Ryan Williams among top Alabama football 2027 NFL draft prospects