Fox NFL Sunday has its replacement for the retired Jimmy Johnson, and it's a larger-than-life former All-Pro.
Rob Gronkowski will step into Johnson's spot on the award-winning pre-game show after the former Super Bowl-winning coach retired in May following 31 years with the network, Fox Sports announced Friday. Gronkowski will join the returning contingent of host Curt Menefee, fellow analysts Terry Bradshaw, Michael Strahan and Howie Long and reporter/insider Jay Glazer for the show that airs at 11 a.m. Central each week during the NFL season.
The 36-year-old Gronkowski, a four-time Super Bowl champion tight end with the New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, spent a year as an analyst on Fox NFL Thursday broadcasts following his initial retirement as a player in 2019 and has been a regular contributor to Fox's NFL coverage since permanently stepping away from the game in 2021. He also co-hosts a podcast with former Patriots teammate Julian Edelman.
Fox also announced that its lead announcing team of play-by-play man Kevin Burkhardt, analyst Tom Brady and sideline reporter/analysts Erin Andrews and Tom Rinaldi will return for their second season together. The team will work the Week 1 game between the New York Giants and Washington Commanders at noon Central on Sept. 7.
Joe Davis, Greg Olsen and Pam Oliver are also back as the No. 2 Fox announcing crew. They will call the San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks game at 3:05 p.m. Central on Sept. 7.
Play-by-play announcers Kenny Albert, Kevin Kugler, Chris Myers, Adam Amin, analysts Jonathan Vilma, Daryl Johnston, Mark Schlereth and Mark Sanchez, reporters Megan Olivi, Allison Williams, Jen Hale and Kristina Pink and rules analysts Dean Blandino and Mike Pereira are also back on Fox this year.
Fox NFL Kickoff will continue to air at 10 a.m. Central each Sunday, with host Charissa Thompson and analysts Edelman and Charles Woodson and media personality Colin Cowherd also returning this year.