Sunday NFL Countdown

''NFL GameDay redirects here. For the video games series, see NFL GameDay (video game series)''

Sunday NFL Countdown is a pregame show of all the NFL action for that week. The official name is Sunday NFL Countdown presented by IBM. The show airs on ESPN, ESPN HD, TSN and TSN HD from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Eastern time every Sunday during the National Football League regular season. In Europe it is aired by ESPN America.

It is very similar to The NFL Today on CBS and Fox NFL Sunday, which airs on Fox. The show's former names include NFL GameDay from 1985 to 1995, NFL Countdown from 1996 to 1997, and since 1998, Sunday NFL Countdown (to demarcate from the Monday night version of the series). In 2006, the program introduced new graphics and a new logo to resemble the network's Monday Night Football logo.

The show made its first appearance on TV in 1985 and Chris Berman has been the studio host for every one of those years. Jack Youngblood was the first analyst. In 1987 he was replaced by Pete Axthelm and Tom Jackson.

The show's awards include seven Sports Emmy Awards for Outstanding Weekly Show (1988, 1991, 1994, 1995, 2001, 2003 and 2006 seasons) and five CableACE Awards (1989, 1992, 1993, 1994 and 1995 seasons).

Controversy
On July 14, 2003, ESPN announced that Rush Limbaugh would be joining the show as a weekly commentator when it premiered on September 7. Limbaugh would provide the "voice of the fan" and was supposed to spark debate on the show. Limbaugh certainly succeeded at the latter. On September 28, Limbaugh commented about Donovan McNabb, the quarterback of the Philadelphia Eagles:


 * "Sorry to say this, I don't think he's been that good from the get-go. I think what we've had here is a little social concern in the NFL. The media has been very desirous that a black quarterback do well. There is a little hope invested in McNabb, and he got a lot of credit for the performance of this team that he didn't deserve. The defense carried this team."

On October 1, 2003, less than one week after that comment, Limbaugh resigned from ESPN. The following Sunday on air Tom Jackson said about Limbaugh:


 * "Let me just say that it was not our decision to have Rush Limbaugh on this show. I've seen replay after replay of Limbaugh's comments with my face attached as well as that of my colleagues, comments which made us very uncomfortable at the time, although the depth and the insensitive nature of which weren't fully felt until it seemed too late to reply. He was brought here to talk football, and he broke that trust. Rush told us the social commentary for which he is so well known would not cross over to our show, and instead, he would represent the viewpoint of the intelligent, passionate fan. Rush Limbaugh was not a fit for NFL Countdown."

2007
In February 2007, ESPN confirmed an earlier report in the Dallas Morning News that Michael Irvin would not be brought back to the show or to the network. On March 12, ESPN confirmed on its website that Michael Irvin's former teammate, Emmitt Smith would fill Irvin's chair, but that arrangement only lasted one season. Keyshawn Johnson also joined the network and has served as an analyst for Countdown, among other programs.

Main Panelists

 * Chris Berman: (Host, 1985–present)
 * Mike Ditka: (Contributor, 2004–2005) (Analyst, 2006–present)
 * Cris Carter: (Analyst, 2008–present)
 * Keyshawn Johnson: (Analyst, 2007–present)
 * Tom Jackson: (Analyst, 1987–present)

Secondary Panelists

 * Suzy Kolber: (Host, 2012–present)
 * Ron Jaworski: (Analyst, 2012–present)
 * Merril Hodge: (Analyst, 2012–present)

Field Reporters

 * Greg Garber: (Correspondent, 1991–present)
 * Kenny Mayne: (Contributor, 2005–present)
 * Rachel Nichols: (Correspondent, 2004–2013)
 * Sal Paolantonio: (Correspondent, 1995–present)
 * Ed Werder: (Correspondent, 1998–present)

NFL Insiders

 * Chris Mortensen: (1991–present)
 * Adam Schefter: (2009–present)

Former

 * Pete Axthelm (analyst, 1987–1990)
 * Josh Elliott: (Correspondent, 2006–2010)
 * Michael Irvin: (analyst, 2003–2006)
 * Ron Jaworski: (contributor, 1990–2005) (analyst, 2006)
 * Jim Kelly
 * Andrea Kremer: (contributor, 1989–2005)
 * Rush Limbaugh (analyst, 2003)
 * Pam Oliver (reporter)
 * Bill Parcells: (contributor, 2007)
 * Phil Simms: (analyst, 1994)
 * Stuart Scott (co-host, 1999–2000)
 * Sterling Sharpe (analyst, 1995–2003)
 * Emmitt Smith: (analyst, 2007)
 * Joe Theismann (analyst, 1988–1997)
 * Mike Tirico (co-host, 1998)
 * Steve Young: (analyst, 2000–2005) (contributor, 2006–2009)
 * Jack Youngblood (analyst, 1985–1986)

Current

 * Around the League: A segment where several live reports from gameday stadiums are received, including last-minute lineup changes and other assorted late-breaking gameday news.
 * Ditka's Doghouse: A segment where Mike Ditka sends a player or team to his doghouse for a previous week's poor performance, although in 2008 he's also sent a division (AFC West) and even entire states (Ohio and Missouri) to his Dog House.
 * Fantasy Tips: First introduced in 2006, this segment originally featured Ron Jaworski offering tips to the viewers about their fantasy teams for that week's games. This segment is now hosted by ESPN fantasy analyst Matthew Berry
 * The Mayne Event: Kenny Mayne hosts this segment which parodies the standard human interest story with a tie-in to the NFL.
 * The Mort Report: NFL "insider" Chris Mortensen breaks down trade rumors, coaching changes, and injuries.
 * Special Look: (formerly, Playmaking Made Easy) During this segment, the hosts of the show diagram a specific football play on a large green floor resembling a football field with astroturf, and then act it out in slow-motion. The name apparently evolves with sponsorship (i.e. the "Playmaking made Easy" was used under Staples, "Special Look" is used under IBM.
 * Sunday Drive: Ron Jaworski provides a look inside one particular game, breaking down a key scoring drive from start to finish.
 * Sunday Stretch: A segment where players are shown warming up for their games.
 * Predictions on the day's game outcomes from the show's on-air personalities.
 * Tip Drill: This is when Berman gives a different analyst a quick question about certain games of the day.
 * Gamebreakers: This is at the very end of the show, when each analyst and Berman give two or three players they expect to have a big day. For the 2009 season, each analyst and Berman only give one player.
 * Late Hits: This is at the end of the show when Chris Mortensen delivers some final news and notes.
 * Stop It!: Mike Ditka tells viewers things that must be stopped in the NFL, such as chanting Tim Tebow's name while he is the back up quarterback. At the end of each question, Ditka says, "Stop It!"
 * Where You At?:Introduced in the 2012 season, Carter reveals which players have gone missing, and then asks, "Where You At?"
 * NFL 32 Segment featuring opinions from the NFL 32 Crew.
 * Cold Hard Facts: 12 Questions answered by Chris Mortensen and Adam Schefter.

Former

 * The Eliminator: Berman, Jackson and the rest of the crew picked a team to win the day's game. If the team one picked lost, he was eliminated. The rules were changed later on where one could only pick one team a season.
 * Open Mikes: This was a debate on a controversial subject(s) between analysts Michael Irvin and Mike Ditka and was hosted by Chris Berman.
 * Takin' It to the House: A segment that was hosted by ten-year-old Chicago resident Jason Krause.
 * Young is Restless: This quarterback-focused segment only comes on occasionally. This is when Steve Young talks about in-depth stuff which happened that day.