Inside the NFL

Inside the NFL is a weekly sports show that focuses on the National Football League and currently airs on the HBO cable network starting the first week of NFL season until the week after the Super Bowl. It is presently hosted by Bob Costas with former players Dan Marino, Chris Collinsworth, and Cris Carter serving has co-hosts.

History

Inside the NFL first aired in 1977 with Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Len Dawson as host, and it is currently cable television's longest running series. The show was significant for being the first major sports related program to air on the then relatively new HBO network. Perhaps more significant was the fact that it was the first NFL related program to air on cable. For years the program was co-hosted by fellow Hall of Famer and former Miami Dolphins linebacker Nick Buoniconti. Several former players and coaches served as co-host throughout this period including Jimmy Johnson and Jerry Glanville.

Related Topics:
1977 - Pro Football Hall of Fame - Quarterback - Len Dawson - Cable television - Miami Dolphins - Linebacker - Nick Buoniconti - Jimmy Johnson - Jerry Glanville

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Beginning with the 2002 NFL season, the network replaced the aging Dawson and Buoniconti with the team it presently consists of today. There was never any official announcement on whether the 2 former hosts retired or were simply released of their contracts, but the change was an obvious move by HBO to update the nearly quarter century old program. However, Bob Costas did acknowledge this change in the season's first episode and paid tribute to the former hosts, saying they paved the way for the show to succeed. In addition to the change in hosts, Inside the NFL has also featured segments featuring comics such as George Lopez and Wanda Sykes.

Related Topics:
2002 - George Lopez - Wanda Sykes

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