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Author: Rob Tornoe

  • Eagles-Commanders: Two familiar voices and a departure at NBC Sports Philadelphia

    Eagles-Commanders: Two familiar voices and a departure at NBC Sports Philadelphia

    After a long offseason, the Philadelphia Eagles are finally back in action Sunday, taking on the Washington Commanders to kick off a season filled with “Super Bowl or bust”-level expectations.

    “There’s no way this team should lose more than three games, four at the most,” writes Inquirer columnist Marcus Hayes. “They’ve got a Pro Bowl quarterback, a superstar running back, a franchise receiver, and a genius running a defense with more talent than any defense in team history that didn’t include Reggie White.”

    Calling the Birds’ season opener on Fox is a familiar figure — former Super Bowl villain turned top broadcaster Tom Brady, who is entering his third season as the network’s top NFL analyst.

    To Brady’s credit, he made steady improvement in the booth last year, developing into one of the best analysts currently calling games. The future Hall of Famer worked six Birds games last season and is in line to call at least four this year, including the Eagles’ Thanksgiving Day matchup against the Dallas Cowboys.

    “There are parts of the game where he just takes over — getting inside the mind of Tom Brady at the line of scrimmage before a play,” Fox NFL producer Richie Zyontz told Front Office Sports at the end of last season. “Anticipating, not just reacting.”

    Despite his other commitments outside the booth, which include being a minority owner of the Las Vegas Raiders, Brady expects to fulfill the 10-year, $375 million deal he signed with Fox in 2024.

    “I have a lot to prove to myself, to my teammates. I have a lot to prove to the executives,” Brady told the Sports Business Journal. “I want to go earn it and I don’t want anything given to me. I hope they’ll have me through the end of this contract.”

    Here’s everything you need to know to watch or stream the Eagles’ season opener against the Commanders.

    How to watch and stream Eagles vs. Commanders

    Tom Brady (left) and Kevin Burkhardt will call Eagles-Commanders on Fox Sunday.Fox Sports

    Sunday’s Week 1 game between the Eagles and Commanders is scheduled to start at 4:25 p.m. Philadelphia time on Fox.

    Alongside Brady will be veteran play-by-play announcer Kevin Burkhardt, a North Jersey native who grew up rooting for the Eagles in Giants country.

    Erin Andrews and Tom Rinaldi will report from the sidelines at Lincoln Financial Field.

    The game will stream on Fox One, the network’s subscription streaming service. It’s also available on any so-called skinny bundle that carries Fox, including fuboTV, YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV, and DirecTV Stream. Most offer a free trial.

    If you live in Philadelphia or any other TV market where the game is airing, you can also stream the game on NFL+, the league’s subscription streaming service, which runs $6.99 a month.

    If you’re looking to stream the game for free and you live in or around Philadelphia, your best option is to use a digital antenna, since the game will air on broadcast television on Fox 29.

    Merrill Reese and Mike Quick back together on radio

    How Merrill Reese, the voice of the Eagles, prepares to go on air
    Video: How Merrill Reese, the voice of the Eagles, prepares to go on air

    Another familiar voice returning this year is Merrill Reese, who is back for his 50th season calling Eagles games on 94.1 WIP.

    Reese began his long career as the team’s pre- and postgame radio host before being promoted to color analyst in 1975. He became the voice of the Eagles suddenly in December 1977 after his partner Charlie Swift died by suicide, and has remained in the booth ever since.

    While Reese, 84, is by far the longest-tenured announcer in the league, he has no intention of this being his last season in the booth.

    “I always kiddingly say they’re going to have to remove me with a crane,” Reese told The Inquirer’s Matt Breen in a lengthy interview. “My greatest pleasure is to sit there and broadcast an Eagles game. There’s nothing I love more. I even enjoy doing the preseason games. … I have no intention of stopping.”

    Merrill Reese (left) and Mike Quick promoting their own beer in 2022. ELIZABETH ROBERTSON / Staff Photographer

    Back alongside Reese is former Eagles wide receiver Mike Quick, who joined the booth in 1998. Reese has had a number of broadcast partners over the years — Jim Barniak, Bill Bergey, Stan Walters — but none had the staying power of Quick.

    “I believe we’ve become like members of the family,” Reese said. “We’re like their old friends who’ve been with them for many, many years. … They can identify with us. They feel comfortable with us.”

    One big change on WIP’s Eagles broadcasts is the absence of a sideline reporter. Devan Kaney, who served as sideline reporter last season and during the Eagles’ Super Bowl LIX run, was laid off by WIP in March as part of company-wide cutbacks by Audacy.

    Former WIP host Howard Eskin became the station’s first Eagles sideline reporter in 2011, but abruptly left the station in December 2024 following an incident with a female staffer during a remote broadcast at a Chickie’s & Pete’s in South Philadelphia and was replaced by Kaney.

    Merrill Reese wants to broadcast Eagles games ‘forever.’ His wife helps him stay sharp after 50 years.

    Ron Jaworski not returning to NBC Sports Philadelphia

    Ron Jaworski, seen here speaking with Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie before an Eagles game. NBC Sports Philadelphia

    Ron Jaworski, the former Eagles quarterback known to most fans simply as “Jaws,” won’t be part of NBC Sports Philadelphia’s pre- and postgame coverage this season.

    The former Eagles quarterback and longtime NFL analyst made the decision to pull back on his broadcasting duties last week after four years with the network.

    “It’s been a great run!” Jaworski wrote on social media last week. “Thank you all, and Go Birds!”

    Michael Barkann, who has hosted Eagles pre- and postgame since the Comcast SportsNet days, is back for his 30th NFL season. He’ll be joined by Reuben Frank and two former Birds players — offensive lineman Barrett Brooks and wide receiver Jason Avant.

    Elsewhere, former Eagles star Brandon Graham will join PHLY’s postgame coverage for certain games this season, rotating with former Birds defender and Super Bowl champ Vinny Curry.

    Seth Joyner is also back to offer postgame analysis on YouTube alongside longtime Birds reporter Derrick Gunn and sports talker Marc Farzetta.

    WIP, 97.5 The Fanatic, and JAKIB Sports also have their own postgame shows, as do the Eagles themselves.

    Live Eagles coverage from The Inquirer

    Predictions for the Eagles' season opener versus the Commanders
    Video: Predictions for the Eagles’ season opener versus the Commanders

    Staff writers Jeff McLane, Olivia Reiner, Jeff Neiburg, and Ryan Novozinsky will be covering the action live on Inquirer.com.

    Notes and observations about the game can be found at Inquirer.com/Eagles. Don’t forget to subscribe to our free Sports Daily newsletter.

    Other NFL games on TV in Philly Week 1

    Dak Prescott and the Cowboys will take the field Sunday night. Julio Cortez
    Sunday
    • Bills at Texans: 1 p.m., CBS3 (Ian Eagle, Ross Tucker, Evan Washburn)
    • Falcons at Steelers: 1 p.m., Fox29 (Joe Davis, Greg Olsen, Pam Oliver)
    • Packers at Vikings: 4:25p.m., CBS3 (Jim Nantz, JJ Watt, Tracy Wolfson)
    • Cowboys at Giants: 8:20 p.m., NBC10 (Mike Tirico, Cris Collinsworth, Melissa Stark)
    Monday
    • Broncos at Chiefs: 8:15 p.m., 6ABC and ESPN (Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Lisa Salters, Laura Rutledge)

    Five things to read about the Eagles

    Girard Elementary students in front of the school’s Eagles mural in South Philadelphia.Aidan T. Gallo / Staff Photographer

    Eagles 2026 TV schedule

    • Week 1: Commanders at Eagles — Sunday, Sept. 13, 4:25 p.m. (Fox)
    • Week 2: Eagles at Titans — Sunday, Sept. 20, 1 p.m. (Fox)
    • Week 3: Eagles at Bears — Monday, Sept. 28, 8:15 p.m. (ABC, ESPN)
    • Week 4: Rams at Eagles — Sunday, Oct. 4, 1 p.m. (Fox)
    • Week 5: Eagles at Jaguars (London) — Sunday, Oct. 11, 9:30 a.m. (NFL Network)
    • Week 6: Panthers at Eagles — Sunday, Oct. 18, 1 p.m. (CBS)
    • Week 7: Cowboys at Eagles — Monday, Oct. 26, 8:15 p.m. (ABC, ESPN)
    • Week 8: Eagles at Commanders — Sunday, Nov. 1, 8:20 p.m. (NBC)
    • Week 9: Giants at Eagles — Sunday, Nov. 8, 1 p.m. (Fox)
    • Week 10: Bye week
    • Week 11: Steelers at Eagles — Sunday, Nov. 22, 4:25 p.m. (CBS)
    • Week 12: Eagles at Cowboys — Thursday, Nov. 26, 4:30 p.m. (Fox)
    • Week 13: Eagles at Cardinals — Sunday, Dec. 6, 4:05 p.m. (Fox)
    • Week 14: Colts at Eagles — Sunday, Dec. 13, 1 p.m. (Fox)
    • Week 15: Seahawks at Eagles — Saturday, Dec. 19, 5 p.m. (Fox)
    • Week 16: Texans at Eagles — Thursday, Dec. 24, 8:15 p.m. (Prime Video)
    • Week 17: Eagles at 49ers — Sunday, Jan. 3, 8:20 p.m. (NBC)
    • Week 18: Eagles at Giants — TBD (TBD)
  • Nick Foles was a standout during Netflix’s 49ers-Rams blowout

    Nick Foles was a standout during Netflix’s 49ers-Rams blowout

    Nick Foles has a tendency to shine in the spotlight.

    He did it in 2018, when he led the Eagles to an unlikely Super Bowl victory against Tom Brady and the New England Patriots. And it did it again Thursday night during his debut as an NFL analyst for Netflix.

    The Birds legend was loose and informative during a pre- and postgame show sandwiching the San Francisco 49ers’ 27-7 blowout of the Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne, Australia.

    With Foles, Elle Duncan, Hall of Famer Michael Irvin, and former Green Bay Packers defender Clay Matthews III, Netflix shed the blatant self-promotion that dominated its early sports broadcasting attempts and put the focus on the game and its setting.

    That being said, it’s still a pregame show with lots of time to kill. Foles seemed comfortable mixing it up with his new colleagues. He took the opportunity to troll Irvin a bit about the declining popularity of the Dallas Cowboys.

    Putting his hand on Irvin’s shoulder, Foles praised “America’s team — the Philadelphia Eagles.”

    To his credit, Irvin didn’t trash the Eagles. Instead, he devoted some time to defending Jalen Hurts, who has been a frequent target of critics (including on Philly sports talk radio) despite leading the Birds to two Super Bowl appearances and a championship during his five-year tenure as the team’s starting quarterback.

    “You wrap his accomplishments around Trevor Lawrence, they’d be the happiest team in the world,” Irvin said. “For some reason, in the City of Brotherly Love, that brother gets no love.”

    While he didn’t bring a dog mask to Australia, Foles was the only member of the crew to correctly predict the 49ers would win, noting he “loves an underdog.” He also let his hair down a bit and downed an unspecified beverage poured into a boot, an Australian custom known as a “shoey.”

    “Who’s shoe was that?” Foles asked. “I tasted a little foot right there.”

    Netflix’s entire broadcast, which NBC helped produce, was solid. Hall of Famer Luke Kuechly impressed critics during his debut in the booth alongside Noah Eagle. The footage was crisp and clean thanks to Netflix’s 4K ultra HD stream (for those on the premium tier). Even the scorebug drew praise.

    About the only misstep was a Netflix-branded kangaroo hoodie the streamer had Foles, his colleagues, and even NFL commissioner Roger Goodell wear. The less written about that, the better.

    But the best moment of Foles’ trek to Australia wasn’t on Netflix; it was on SEN 1116, a sports talk station based in Victoria. Prior to the game, Foles sat with announcer Gerard Whateley and watched his call of the “Philly Special” during Super Bowl LII.

    “When we ran that play, we had no idea what it would represent,” Foles said. “It was aggressive, … we weren’t fearful, and that’s what radiated through our team throughout that 2017-18 season.”

    Foles will be part of all Netflix NFL broadcasts this season, which includes Thanksgiving eve, two Christmas Day games, and a Week 18 matchup.

    “These are primetime games. These are important games,” Foles told The Inquirer ahead of the game. “It’ll challenge me.”

  • Tom McCarthy is off NBC Sports Philadelphia this weekend … and off social media

    Tom McCarthy is off NBC Sports Philadelphia this weekend … and off social media

    A familiar Phillies radio voice will return to NBC Sports Philadelphia this weekend to call the team’s pivotal three-game series against the Atlanta Braves.

    Scott Franzke, the veteran radio announcer in his 21st season calling Phillies games, will take his talents to TV to fill in for Tom McCarthy while McCarthy makes his annual trek over to the NFL.

    Franzke and John Kruk will call all three Phillies-Braves games at Truist Park, beginning with Friday’s matchup. On the radio, pre- and postgame host Gregg Murphy will fill in for Franzke alongside Larry Andersen, who’s making his first road trip of the season.

    Scott Franzke and John Kruk will call this weekend’s Phillies-Braves series. NBC Sports Philadelphia

    While McCarthy’s jump to football isn’t anything new — it’s his 13th season as a play-by-play voice for CBS — the timing is unfortunate. The Phillies have a chance to cut into the Braves’ narrow lead in the NL East, but weren’t helped by Jhoan Duran surrendering a ninth-inning homer Thursday.

    Instead, McCarthy will be about five hours south in Jacksonville, Fla., to call the Jaguars’ Week 1 matchup against the Cleveland Browns. This season he’s paired with a new partner: former Indianapolis Colts and Seattle Seahawks running back Robert Turbin, who is in his first season as an NFL color analyst.

    Among other things, the game features the controversial return of quarterback Deshaun Watson, a one-time Eagles trade target who was injured last season and was given the starting job despite criticizing Browns fans who booed him.

    “As the former voice of their preseason, I’m kind of used to it,” McCarthy said of the antics that seem to perennially plague the Browns.

    The rest of the season, McCarthy benefits from a Phillies weekend schedule filled with national broadcasts.

    Last season, Tom McCarthy called NFL games alongside Ross Tucker. CBS

    Next weekend, McCarthy will miss the final two games of the Phillies’ four-game series against the New York Mets. The first two won’t air on NBC Sports Philadelphia — Thursday’s game is being broadcast by Fox, while the Sept. 18 game will be part of the Friday Night Baseball doubleheader on Apple TV.

    He’ll also miss the final game of the season, Sept. 27 against the Tampa Bay Rays, which will feature former Phillies pitcher turned broadcaster Cole Hamels. McCarthy will call the first game of the Rays series Friday, while Saturday’s game will be broadcast on Fox.

    McCarthy’s schedule also benefited from this year’s late Labor Day.

    “It worked out that I’m missing less games this year than I normally do because the NFL season’s starting a week later,” McCarthy said.

    The Eagles are set to appear twice on CBS — Oct. 18 against the Carolina Panthers and Nov. 22 vs. the Pittsburgh Steelers — but McCarthy isn’t in line to call either and has yet to broadcast a Birds game on TV.

    “I would love to do an Eagles game. I think it’d be a hoot,” McCarthy said. “But it’s one of those things where I roll with wherever they send me.”

    Why McCarthy hasn’t been posting on X

    Tom McCarthy gives food to a fan during a broadcast from behind home plate at Citizens Bank Park in June. Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer

    While social media tends to be a hateful cesspool of negativity toward announcers, McCarthy has been a prolific poster for years.

    Sometimes that meant answering a fan’s question about why the Phillies game wasn’t on NBC Sports Philadelphia. Often it was a funny rebuke of a nasty comment. He’s also used Twitter, now X, to defend his allegiance to the Phillies because he spent a couple seasons calling Mets games and his son, Patrick, handles New York’s pre- and postgame coverage on radio.

    But his last post on X was more than two months ago. Why the long silence?

    “I just got to the point between the algorithms and all the negativity and all the stories that were untrue,” McCarthy said. “It wasn’t something I really wanted to be associated with it anymore.”

    If you miss interacting with McCarthy on social media, you can always follow him on Instagram, where he posts photos from the broadcast booth and connects with fans. He also likes that his feed is focused on baseball and golf.

    “I can reset it pretty quickly if I feel like it’s too, let’s say, political,” McCarthy said.

    NL East standings

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    NL wildcard standings

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    Phillies magic number

    That is the combined total of Phillies’ wins and/or losses by the teams on the outside looking in that are needed to secure at least the third wild-card berth and a spot in the playoffs.

    MLB playoff tracker: Phillies wild-card and NL East standings; updated magic number

    Phillies news

    Kyle Schwarber and the Phillies are looking to overtake the Braves in the NL East. Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer

    Remaining Phillies TV schedule

    • Phillies at Braves
    • Phillies at Nationals
    • Phillies at Mets
    • Brewers at Phillies
    • Rays at Phillies
  • Nick Foles on joining Netflix, traveling to Australia, and his one big concern about the Eagles

    Nick Foles on joining Netflix, traveling to Australia, and his one big concern about the Eagles

    The San Francisco 49ers face the Los Angeles Rams Thursday night in the first-ever NFL game in Australia (8:35 p.m., Netflix), and the streamer is bringing an Eagles legend along for the time-bending ride.

    Nick Foles, the Super Bowl MVP whose statue sits outside Lincoln Financial Field, will be part of Netflix’s NFL studio show this season, which includes Thursday night’s game at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Thanksgiving eve, two Christmas Day games, and a Week 18 matchup.

    “These are primetime games. These are important games. And Netflix is obviously a huge company,” Foles said. “It’ll challenge me.”

    Alongside Foles for pregame, postgame, and halftime coverage will be host Elle Duncan, Hall of Famer Michael Irvin, and former Green Bay Packers defender Clay Matthews III. Calling the game will be Noah Eagle and Hall of Famer Luke Kuechly, the former Carolina Panthers linebacker who also landed a color analyst role this season with CBS.

    NBC is helping Netflix produce its five-NFL-game slate, and brought Foles and his new colleagues to their studios in Connecticut last month for something akin to a broadcast training camp. That included Foles and Matthews — the two TV newcomers — practicing situations without any preparation, including a mock kickoff.

    “They wanted to see if we could even handle going to transition, having a producer in our ear,” Foles said. “We understand we’re rookies at it, and we’re just hungry to learn. … They want us to be ourselves and have fun.”

    It’s a big jump for the Super Bowl champ, who is in his second season co-hosting The SZN podcast with his brother-in-law, former NFL tight end Evan Moore. But it’s also an ideal gig, allowing Foles to offer analysis to millions of viewers while only committing to a few extra days during the season.

    “It was really just the right time, right situation,” Foles said.

    It also offers him a chance to show off his nerdy side. While the game will kick off 8:35 p.m. Philly time Thursday, it will take place locally in Melbourne at 10:35 a.m. Friday, which could have an impact on the players. There’s also the long flight down, the longest Foles has ever taken.

    “I got my compression tights. … I’m literally geeking out on the science,” Foles said.

    If it feels like you haven’t heard much from Foles since he retired from football in 2024, that’s by design. He spent a year away from football to clear his head, spend time with his family, and coach his three children.

    Ron Jaworski departs NBC Sports Philadelphia ahead of Eagles’ season

    He began to receive media offers, but opted instead to focus on building the podcast with Moore. That gave him a comfortable spot to find his voice talking about football, which drew the attention of producers at Netflix.

    Thankfully, Foles has plenty of broadcasters to turn to for advice, including Moore and former teammates like Jason Kelce and Brandon Graham. He also attends the same church as longtime Fox Sports college football analyst Joel Klatt, and squeezed some sage advice about the need to be quick.

    “On a podcast, you can be long-winded and get your point our there at the end,” Foles said. “He said ‘No, start with the main point and then have a meaningful explanation …’ That’s simplistic, but it makes a world of difference.”

    Unlike Kelce and Graham, Foles takes a quieter and more analytical approach to breaking down the game, which was on display last season when the Eagles offense struggled. He drew attention for comments he made about former offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo, but rather than just pile on, Foles tried to offer suggestions to help the team.

    “I’m not going to be one of those guys that just crushes someone,” Foles said. “Maybe the Cowboys.”

    Foles has one big concern about the Eagles

    Nick Foles is most interested to see how well new offensive line coach Chris Kuper helps the Eagles. David Maialetti / Staff Photographer

    While the Eagles aren’t slated to appear on Netflix this season, unless they land in their Week 18 game, Foles will spend plenty of time talking about the Birds on his podcast, which will air weekly on NBC Sports Philadelphia.

    Heading into the season, Foles expects Vic Fangio’s defense to be solid and the offense to rebound after last year’s struggles.

    It’s the offensive line he’s worried about. Specifically, how the loss of former offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland and his availability to develop players could impact the team.

    “If you look at the Eagles the last couple of years, when has their season fallen apart? When the offensive line gets banged up,” Foles said.

    While he has concerns, Foles said he’s heard nothing but good things about new offensive line coach Chris Kuper, who played eight seasons with the Denver Broncos and most recently served as offensive line coach with the Minnesota Vikings.

    He’s part of a big overhaul under new offensive coordinator Sean Mannion that includes a different run blocking scheme and a new approach at the line. Kuper told reporters the squad has “come a long way” as the Birds prepare for their season opener against the Washington Commanders Sunday, but only time will tell how the team performs.

    “There’s a lot of pressure on this guy. He played the position well. … [Kelce] said good things about him,” Foles said. “But I’m circling that.”

  • Ron Jaworski departs NBC Sports Philadelphia ahead of Eagles’ season

    Ron Jaworski departs NBC Sports Philadelphia ahead of Eagles’ season

    NBC Sports Philadelphia is losing an Eagles legend.

    Ron Jaworski, the former Eagles quarterback known to most fans simply as “Jaws,” announced on social media he is cutting back his broadcast work and leaving the network’s Eagles pre- and postgame coverage after four seasons.

    “It’s been a great run!” Jaworski wrote. “Thank you all, and Go Birds!”

    NBC Sports Philadelphia isn’t planning on filling Jaworski’s empty seat. Michael Barkann will return as host of the network’s pre- and postgame coverage, joined by Barrett Brooks, Reuben Frank, and former Eagles wide receiver Jason Avant.

    “There are certain people in this businesses who are irreplaceable, and Jaws is one of those people,” said Alexandra Matcham, the vice president of content for NBC Sports Philadelphia. “You don’t replace a person who was a pioneer in the NFL broadcast world, and we have no intention of doing so.”

    Jaworski was hired by NBC Sports Philadelphia in 2022 to help fill the void left by Ray Didinger’s retirement and the departure of former Eagles defender Seth Joyner. Prior to that, Jaworski spent 27 years at ESPN as an announcer and analyst, including a five-year stint on Monday Night Football.

    It was also Jaworski who helped lead the Eagles to the franchise’s first Super Bowl appearance in 1980 under Hall of Fame head coach Dick Vermeil. Jaworski spent 15 years as a quarterback in the NFL, 10 with the Birds, and his 99-yard touchdown pass to Mike Quick during the 1985 season remains tied for the longest in NFL history.

    Outside of the NFL, Jaworski was the owner of the Philadelphia Soul, the city’s Arena Football League franchise, until the league shuttered in 2019. He also manages golf courses in South Jersey and northeast Pennsylvania.

    ‘I was so tired of that question’: Brandon Graham turns his attention from the Eagles to his new media career

  • ‘I was so tired of that question’: Brandon Graham turns his attention from the Eagles to his new media career

    ‘I was so tired of that question’: Brandon Graham turns his attention from the Eagles to his new media career

    Brandon Graham had a choice — announce on his Unblocked podcast he’s officially done with the Eagles, or blurt it out at an event at a Jefferson Health.

    He chose the latter, a decision he initially regretted before leaning on the media savviness he picked up during his 16-year career with the Birds.

    “I actually wanted to wait, but man, I was so tired of that question being asked all the time, so that just got me,” Graham said. But he landed on the announcement helping him, because it got fans interested to “tune in” and hear him explain why.

    So begins Graham’s transition from Eagles legend and two-time Super Bowl champ to a budding media career talking about football.

    After being injured during the 2024 season, Graham, 38, still felt like he had a little gas in the tank. So when the Eagles called him up last season, he was ready to unretire and get back on the field to “finish the season clean.”

    Graham went into this offseason hopeful he might jump back into football. He stayed in contact with Eagles general manager Howie Roseman and was even prepared to participate in training camp to be properly prepared if the Birds needed him. But the stars didn’t align.

    “It didn’t work out like that because [Roseman] got the team he needed,” Graham said. “So in my mind, I was like, ‘Yeah, I think I’m going to be done.’”

    Ron Jaworski departs NBC Sports Philadelphia ahead of Eagles’ season

    In hindsight, it’s been something of a relief. Now Graham can focus his efforts on a budding media career that will start off with the second season of his Unblocked podcast and joining PHLY for postgame coverage of Eagles games.

    “Last year, I was one foot in, one foot out, because I thought there was an opportunity for me to go back and play,” Graham said. “This year I didn’t want that feeling so I can work in the media space how I worked in football. Otherwise I’m doing myself a disservice.”

    Learning on WIP and late-night 6abc hits

    Brandon Graham hosted a weekly show on 94.1 WIP for nine seasons alongside former host Howard Eskin. Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer

    Graham’s interest in the media began during his playing days, where he’d listen back and critique interviews he gave with reporters. It didn’t take long for his engaging personality to win over the press, who began offering him more opportunities to jump on the air.

    An early break was with 94.1 WIP, a gig that transformed from him calling in on Tuesdays to hosting his own weekly show during the season at Chickie’s & Pete’s alongside former host Howard Eskin.

    Learning on the job also meant sometimes wading in controversy. He was forced to walk back comments he made about then-teammates Jalen Hurts and A.J. Brown in 2024. Graham was injured at the time and based his remarks on a video of Brown speaking, something he’s since learned to approach with caution.

    “It was an emotional time and I should have been patient,” Graham said. “But I felt like it helped us a little bit, too, because we ended up winning the Super Bowl that year.”

    Graham also got some early reps on 6abc during the 2015 season. After Sunday Eagles games, Graham would drive to the station’s studios on City Avenue to join the 11 p.m. edition of Action News and talk Birds with Ducis Rodgers.

    “Boy, that was a grind,” Graham said.

    In 2024, Graham participated in the NFL’s broadcast boot camp, which allows players to experience what it’s like working on a studio show or calling games. Graham said the experience was enlightening, and helped him land appearances on ESPN and the NFL Network.

    “At ESPN, I went through what they call the car wash, when you appear on all the different shows,” Graham said. “They ended up liking me, and I got put on Good Morning Football before I went back to play … I expect I’ll do more of that.”

    Joining PHLY and learning to criticize his former teammates

    Brandon Graham is entering his second season hosting the “Unblocked” podcast for PHLY.PHLY

    Graham is entering his second NFL season with PHLY, the digital start up that began in Denver in 2015 and expanded to Philly in 2023 as part of the ALLCITY Network.

    The network took notice of Graham’s abilities during a July 2025 interview on the Exciting Mics podcast, hosted by Eagles cornerback Cooper DeJean and former Birds safety Reed Blankenship (who signed with the Houston Texans in March). Graham said parent company ALLCITY made him a strong proposal, and within a few weeks he launched his Unblocked podcast, co-hosted by Bo Wulf.

    “BG brings an incredible depth of knowledge and an understanding of the game, but what truly sets him apart is his authenticity and infectious energy,” said Todd Berman, PHLY’s general manager.

    This year Graham is expanding his duties beyond Unblocked to include co-hosting PHLY’s crowded postgame coverage alongside Wulf, Fran Duffy, Brandon Lee Gowton, and former Inquirer reporter EJ Smith.

    Graham won’t appear after every Eagles game — he’ll rotate with former Eagles defender and Super Bowl champ Vinny Curry. But his appearances will place Graham in the potentially awkward position of having to criticize his former teammates.

    But Graham isn’t too concerned. As a player, he understood the media had their own job to do, even during his first few seasons with the Eagles when “Philly people were really bashing me.”

    “Everybody’s takes are different. Some people do it for clickbait just to get people to click on your show,” Graham said. “I’m going to be honest and tell viewers the truth … It will be challenging, because sometimes there’s certain stuff you can’t just beat around.”

    While he’s entering the season hopeful about a future in the sports media machine, he’s open to different paths, including public speaking. For now, Graham’s happy to have a manageable schedule where he works a few days a week, spends time with his family, and has the freedom to explore different interests.

    “Who knows what the media stuff will do,” Graham said, “But I’m trying to get this golf game right, too.”

  • Sixers and Flyers release first looks of new arena in South Philly

    Sixers and Flyers release first looks of new arena in South Philly

    A new home for the 76ers and Flyers is scheduled to open in 2030, and now we have our first glimpse of what the new arena might look like.

    The teams released the first renderings of the privately funded arena Tuesday that will be built at the former site of the Spectrum, next to where Xfinity Mobile Arena sits.

    The new design features inspiration from the Spectrum, the former home of both teams from 1967 to 1996. The renderings show the facade will be composed of three stacked and cantilevered “bands,” a nod to the Spectrum’s exterior.

    The Spectrum was home of the Sixers and Flyers until 1996. It was demolished in 2010.

    “To build our future where Ed Snider and the Spectrum made history makes this project truly special,” Comcast chairman Brian Roberts said in a statement.

    A plaza outside the arena will feature over a half-acre of outdoor space. The renderings show an expansive footprint that includes food and beverage pavilions, along with a giant screen outside the stadium.

    “The first-look renderings reflect fan feedback and stakeholder input on the arena experience, public spaces and amenities,” the teams said in a statement. “Fan surveys, focus groups, community engagement, and public review will continue throughout the design and approval process.”

    Stateside Live!, previously known as Xfinity! Live, sits near the new stadium site on 11th Street and just underwent a $15 million expansion. It is expected to remain open.

    The location of the yet-to-be-named new arena. Steve Madden

    In addition to the Sixers and Flyers, the arena will also be home to the yet-to-be named WNBA team slated to begin playing in Philly in 2030.

    The stadium will be co-owned by Comcast and Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment, which owns the Sixers. Comcast owns the naming rights of the new arena but hasn’t announced a name. It’s unclear how much the new arena will cost, but it will be the largest fully privately funded project in the city’s history, according to a Comcast spokesperson.

    “Philly fans deserve the best arena in the world, and we are excited to partner with Comcast to deliver just that,” 76ers managing partner Josh Harris said in a statement.

    The new arena is scheduled to open in 2030. Courtesy of the Philadelphia 76ers and Flyers
    How the new arena might look for Flyers fans arriving for a game. Courtesy of the Philadelphia 76ers and Flyers

    The Sixers’ original plan was to build a new $1.3 billion stadium on Market Street in Center City, a contentious idea backed by Mayor Cherelle L. Parker that secured legislative approval in 2024.

    Weeks later, the project was canceled after the Sixers struck a deal with Comcast to build a new arena in South Philly.

    The new arena still needs regulatory and legislative approval before the start of construction, which is scheduled to begin in the first half of 2027.

    Parker’s office did not respond to a request for comment, but the city shared the renderings on social media along with the comment, “Get excited Philly fans!”

    Ryan Boyer, the head of the Philadelphia Building and Construction Trades Council praised the project’s job creations. “Beyond the construction jobs themselves, this is the kind of investment that opens doors for new contractors, suppliers, and small businesses throughout the city of Philadelphia.”

    What remains unclear is the future of Comcast’s plan to transform parking lots at the South Philadelphia stadium district into a sports-and-entertainment complex featuring hotels, residences, restaurants, and shops.

    That announcement came before the Sixers abandoned their Center City stadium idea and decided to remain in South Philly. For now, the focus is on the new arena.

    “We see [this location] as a unique opportunity to connect the retail affiliated with the arena, to the retail that we have in Stateside Live! and the expansion of that effort,” Comcast Spectacor chairman and CEO Dan Hilferty told The Inquirer in April.

    Beyond the new retail, restaurant, and outdoor activation space included in the new arena’s plan, there is an opportunity for the four teams (five once the WNBA comes to town) to work together to further develop the sports complex, according to Phillies CEO and managing partner John Middleton.

    “Having four major professional sports teams together in one destination creates an energy and sense of community that is unmatched anywhere in the country,” Middleton said, adding the new arena “represents an exciting next chapter for South Philadelphia and creates important opportunities” to realize the potential of the sports comlex space.

    The arena is expected to feature an outdoor plaza with food pavillions. Courtesy of the Philadelphia 76ers and Flyers
    The new arena will sit in the South Philly sports complex at the former site of The Spectrum. Courtesy of the Philadelphia 76ers and Flyers
    A renderings also show a giant screen outside the arena. Courtesy of the Philadelphia 76ers and Flyers

    As for Center City, demolition planned for some of the properties purchased by Comcast and Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment on Market Street across from Fashion District Philadelphia was pushed back until after the city’s 2026 celebrations.

    Revitalizing the beleaguered Market East corridor has been a focus of Parker’s, which includes a reimagining of the Wanamaker Building following Macy’s closure last year.

    Over the summer, Comcast and Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment upgraded and donated storefronts for use as pop-up retail stores and other temporary activations to take advantage of the city’s busy calendar.

    Last month, the companies extended the leases of four pop-up retail stores along Market Street, and both continue to work with the mayor’s Market East Advisory Committee on a master plan for the corridor, according to a Comcast spokesperson.

  • 6abc lands a Philly native to lead ‘Action News’ after predecessor’s abrupt exit

    6abc lands a Philly native to lead ‘Action News’ after predecessor’s abrupt exit

    After more than five months, 6abc finally has a news director.

    The station announced Nneka Nwosu, a Philadelphia native serving as the vice president of marketing and local programming at sister-station WLS in Chicago, would take over running the Action News newsroom.

    6abc president John Morris announced the move to staff in an email Tuesday, noting that Nwosu is such a big Eagles fan “their 2018 Super Bowl win may have actually sent her into labor with one of her sons.”

    “Running the news department at the station I grew up watching is surreal!” Nwosu wrote on LinkedIn, adding she was “thrilled to be coming home.”

    Nwosu spent the past four years in Chicago, previously serving as one of the station’s assistant news directors. Prior to that, she spent eight years at Boston ABC affiliate WCVB.

    At 6abc, Nwosu is inheriting the city’s most-watched newscast dating back more than 40 years. Her first day in the newsroom will be Oct. 5, and among her first tasks will be overseeing a new chief meteorologist following the retirement of Cecily Tynan, who delivered her final forecast Monday after more than three decades at the station.

    6abc’s Cecily Tynan discusses her surprise retirement, sealed after a brief bout with vertigo

    Nwosu is filling the spot vacated by the sudden departure of Tom Davis, who abruptly left in March after more than two decades.

    In a note to staff, Chad Matthews, the president of ABC’s eight owned and operated TV stations, wrote Davis “made the decision to leave 6abc” and thanked him “for his years of service to the station.”

    Davis could not be reached for comment. He spent 15 years as news director, maintaining the station’s place as the region’s most-watched newscast. He also served as an assistant news director for seven years before that.

    In a separate move, Morris also announced Mike Amato had been promoted to the vice president of technology. The Drexel grad has been with the station since 2015, and prior to that he spent nine years at NBC Sports Philadelphia.

    6abc still threatened by Trump administration

    Nwosu and 6abc also face the threat of being taken off the air by President Donald Trump’s administration.

    ABC’s parent company, Disney, is locked in a legal fight as the Federal Communications Commission considers whether to take away the broadcast licenses for the company’s eight owned-and-operated stations in the wake of a Jimmy Kimmel joke involving first lady Melania Trump.

    The FCC contends the unusual early review of the licenses stems from an earlier investigation into diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives at Disney, citing “the agency’s prohibition on unlawful discrimination.”

    It’s unclear if and when the government will take action. The FCC’s final deadline for public comments was Aug. 5, and respondents were overwhelmingly supportive of 6abc and the network’s other local stations.

    Trump also recently called on the FCC to punish NBC and Philly native Kristen Welker, the moderator of Meet the Press, over a TV segment in which she said the president had “mixed results” backing candidates this election cycle.

    The FCC is also investigating NBC and its parent company, Comcast, over the company’s DEI policies and how it handles its owned and operated affiliates, including NBC10.

    Anna Gomez, the only remaining FCC commissioner appointed by a Democrat, wrote “the FCC has no authority to punish journalists this administration doesn’t like.”

  • Tony Romo acknowledges drinking issue, plans to return to CBS in first comments since arrest

    Tony Romo acknowledges drinking issue, plans to return to CBS in first comments since arrest

    Tony Romo pleaded no contest Tuesday to operating a vehicle while intoxicated and said he planned to return to CBS “in time.”

    The Dallas Cowboys quarterback-turned-NFL broadcaster confirmed the no-contest plea and called the incident a “personal failure” in a statement shared on his Instagram account.

    Romo was arrested in Wisconsin on July 23 for suspicion of operating a vehicle while under the influence. Body camera video released by the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office showed Romo denying he was drinking while struggling at times to follow the officers’ instructions.

    As a result of the plea, Romo will be forced to give up his driver’s license for six months and pay a fine of $784, according to court records. He’s also required to complete an alcohol assessment program and install a Breathalyzer to the ignition of any car he owns.

    Romo also admitted to using alcohol to cope with the multiple injuries he suffered during his 13-year NFL career.

    “Multiple back surgeries ended my career earlier than I expected and left me with constant debilitating pain,” Romo wrote. “That pain led to a dependence on pain medication, and my efforts to get those medications led to an over-reliance on alcohol.”

    “None of this is an excuse,” Romo added. “These are my failures, and I take responsibility for them.”

    Romo also asked for privacy and said he was turning his attention to his health, family, and “in time, my return to CBS.”

    CBS declined to comment.

    Romo is on leave at CBS, and will be replaced by former Houston Texans defender J.J. Watt in Week 1. Replacing Watt in the network’s No. 2 booth will be Eagles preseason announcer Ross Tucker.

    The network hasn’t announced its Week 2 lineup.

    Tony Romo (right) has been calling games alongside Jim Nantz since 2017. CBS Sports

    During a media day event with reporters last month, CBS Sports President David Berson called Romo’s status an “evolving situation” and said there was “no timetable or final decision” on when — or if — the network’s top NFL analyst could be back in the booth.

    “Fortunately, we have a very deep bench, and I’m really proud of the way everyone’s stepping up and responding,” Berson said.

    Romo isn’t the first high-profile announcer to be involved in a drunk driving incident.

    In 2009, former Sixers star and Hall of Famer Charles Barkley spent three days in jail and was suspended six weeks by TNT after pleading guilty to having driven under the influence on New Year’s Eve.

    Jalen Rose was suspended but later returned to ESPN after his DUI arrest in 2011, despite waiting three weeks to tell the network. Al Michaels was arrested for DUI in 2013, but NBC took no disciplinary action, and he didn’t miss any Sunday Night Football games since his legal issues were resolved before the start of the season.

    Romo joined CBS in 2017 and immediately became a fan favorite, thanks to his lighthearted tone and ability to predict plays. But in recent years Romo has faced criticism for appearing to be unprepared and chemistry issues with his partner, veteran play-by-play announcer Jim Nantz.

    “He was everything we made him out to be in those first three years,” The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand said of Romo on this week’s The Varsity with John Ourand podcast. “He’s gone backward, and we’ve seen things that just haven’t sounded right … The fact is he hasn’t been good, and the work ethic’s been questioned.”

    Staff writer Abraham Gutman contributed to this article.

  • After more than three decades, Cecily Tynan delivers her final forecast for 6abc

    After more than three decades, Cecily Tynan delivers her final forecast for 6abc

    The long-term forecast for 6abc? No more Cecily Tynan.

    The beloved meteorologist offered her final weather report on Action News Monday night, capping off a career spanning three decades as one of Philadelphia’s most-watched personalities.

    Tynan choked up as she thanked 6abc for giving her a chance nearly 31 years ago and praised her colleagues for letting her be her “authentic self” as she rose up the ranks from weekend weather anchor to become the station’s first meteorologist.

    “We’ve been through so much together,” Tynan said before ticking off major storms like the record snowstorm of January 1996 and Superstorm Sandy in 2012. “But after I leave here, that’s not what I will remember the most. I’ll be thinking about just how much fun I’ve had here for more than three decades now.”

    “I may be retiring, and you won’t see me here on the news anymore, but I know I will always be part of the Action News team,” Tynan added. “And I thank you for that.”

    Tynan devoted most of her farewell message to thanking viewers across the Delaware Valley, who have followed her career — and weather forecasts — for more than a generation.

    “I’ve met families who’ve been watching Action News for several generations. Most people in this area can sing the Action News theme song, and I’ve even met several young Cecily’s named after me,” Tynan said. “What an honor.”

    Among those on hand to celebrate Tynan’s final broadcast was retired Action News anchor Jim Gardner, a Philly media institution in his own right who trekked back to his former studio to celebrate his former TV partner.

    “The viewers will miss her terribly,” Gardner said. “She such a compelling television personality who really owns the screen when she’s on camera. The rest of us just appeared on TV.”

    “I’m not sure people give her enough credit for being a scientist, which is what she is first and foremost,” Gardner added. “She’s so committed to keeping viewers safe and informed when the weather presents serious challenges.”

    6abc’s Cecily Tynan discusses her surprise retirement, sealed after a brief bout with vertigo
    Cecily Tynan, seen here in 6abc’s weather center, has been the station’s chief meteorologist since 2009. Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer

    Tynan’s other longtime partner, current Action News anchor Rick Williams, was there in 1995 when she first joined the station fresh off a stint in Las Vegas. Nearly 31 years later, Williams offered a heartfelt goodbye during the 5 p.m. newscast to his “closest friend,” though the two couldn’t avoid cracking a joke or two.

    “You’re my work husband,” Tynan said.

    “And we’re getting divorced,” Williams shot back.

    Despite retiring relatively young at 57, Tynan has no immediate plans, outside of splitting her time between her Delaware County home and waterskiing at her second house in Florida with her husband, Greg. She even turned down a chance to host the Thanksgiving parade one final time so she could spend the holiday with her family.

    “We’ve always been in a hotel by the parade route, and I’ve never actually cooked,” Tynan told The Inquirer last month. “This year I was like, ‘No, I’m going to stay home. I’m going to cook Thanksgiving dinner from scratch.’ Hopefully my family appreciates it.”

    Tynan’s departure is the latest in a string of exits in recent years by some of the city’s most-beloved and longest-serving media personalities.

    Tracy Davidson retired from NBC10 last year after nearly 30 years with the station, while Jim Donovan said goodbye to CBS3 after 22 years. Muckraker Jeff Cole also walked away from the spotlight last year after spending 25 years with Fox 29.

    They were all preceded by Gardner, who delivered his final newscast nearly four years ago.

    “Retirement is a thief, if you ask me,” longtime 6abc anchor Brian Taff joked on social media.

    6ABC meteorologist Cecily Tynan grabs a shoe from one of two shoe drawers she has in the weather center.Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer

    6abc hasn’t yet announced who will replace Tynan as the station’s chief meteorologist on the 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. editions of Action News. The obvious candidates are 6abc veterans Karen Rogers and Adam Joseph, both of whom have spent more than 20 years on Action News.

    “Channel 6 is so much bigger than any individual, and it will continue on with extremely talented people doing the weather,” Gardner said. “But there’s only one Cecily Tynan.”