The NFL has recently announced changes to its kickoff rules, as reported by USA Today’s Safid Deen. These new rules will be implemented for the 2024 season starting in September. Meanwhile, the league’s internal media arm has experienced cuts in on-air personalities. Four prominent personalities, Andrew Siciliano, Melissa Stark, Will Selva, and James Palmer, will not be returning for the upcoming season.
According to NFL Network spokesperson Alex Riethmiller, these changes in talent lineup are a normal part of business at this time of year. This evaluation process results in renewals, non-renewals, and additions to the talent roster based on programming needs. The departing talent were given thanks and appreciation for their hard work and contributions to NFL Media.
Siciliano was known for hosting “RedZone” on “DirecTV” on Sundays during the regular season since 2005 but lost his role after Google and YouTube TV gained the rights to the “Sunday Ticket” package. Selva provided news updates for the morning show “Good Morning Football,” which is currently on hiatus and moving production from New York to Los Angeles. Stark remains the sideline reporter for “Sunday Night Football” and NBC’s top NFL broadcast team while Palmer had his contract bought out after being a national reporter for NFL Network since 2015.
In addition to these cuts, there have been rumors that ESPN may take over operations at the NFL Network as they have been mentioned as a potential match for an equity swap. Last May, NFL Network laid off approximately 50 people and in January, the league offered buyouts to 200 employees further highlighting their ongoing efforts to cut costs.
