Hall of Fame head coach Joe Gibbs and former Sunday night/Monday night analyst Joe Thiesmann will join Tom Hammond to call the opening game of NBC Sports’ January 9 playoff doubleheader. Tiki Barber will serve as the sideline reporter.
NBC televises the two Saturday games of the NFL wild-card round.
Gibbs previously worked for NBC Sports’ NFL pregame show from 1994 through 1997.
“Joe Gibbs is one of the most beloved people to have ever worked at NBC Sports and we’re so happy that he’s made a pit stop to work for us again,” said Dick Ebersol, Chairman of NBC Universal Sports & Olympics. “Joe Theismann has always provided insightful analysis and we all can’t wait to see him join his former coach.”
“I’m really excited about coming back to NBC Sports,” Gibbs said. “I’m also excited about working with Joe again but he’ll probably argue with me the whole night. I’m going to make him promise to let me get in a word edgewise.”
“I really appreciate the opportunity to broadcast the Wild Card game,” Theismann said. “There’s always a chance that Cinderella will find the slipper. I’m ecstatic to be working with my old coach. I owe so much to him. But I don’t know if he’s going to be able to handle three straight hours with me. I drove him crazy for six years.”
The evening game will be handled by the Sunday Night Football crew.