In the National Football League, teams retain and sell the rights to their preseason television telecasts. Historically, some teams sold the rights to an agency (Bob Speck Productions for the Raiders, Dennis Dunn Inc. for the Baltimore Colts) or a sponsor (Twin City Federal Savings & Loan held the rights for some years to Vikings football) which would put together the network. Though today most teams handle their own production, originating stations often have significant influence on the flavor and sound of telecasts, as sportscasters often double as announcers and reporters. There were five preseason games for most teams until 1978 and four from then until 2021. For information on national telecasts, which take the place of local telecasts, consult the by-season pages.
Information is compiled from 1970 onward, as this represents the AFL–NFL merger. Sources include summaries of Broadcasting Magazine for most years in the 1970s, 1983–1988, and 1992. Information on the 506 Sports website dates to 2014, and the forums had additional material back to 2005. A list of announcers from the forums was used as a base.
As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the NFL did not hold a preseason in 2020. Three teams had changed rightsholders ahead of what would have been the 2020 preseason: Atlanta (WUPA to WAGA), Buffalo (WKBW to WIVB), and Kansas City (KCTV to KSHB).
↑The Cardinals did not show their preseason games on television from 1977 to 1980. In 1977, the team found all three bids for telecasts "inadequate". In 1978, a team spokesman told Broadcasting that Charles Bidwill was reportedly "worried about overexposure".
↑ abSimulcast with KSLX 100.7 FM and KDUS 1060 AM.
↑Plank was the defensive coordinator for the Arizona Rattlers arena football team and missed this game because the Rattlers had a playoff game that weekend.
↑The August 28 game against New Orleans was canceled due to Hurricane Ida.
↑Rosen was brought in (thanks to his relationship with George Veras) because of a rotund rejection of the planned telecast format. "Bob Golic, Brian Brennan and Reggie Rucker, all former Browns players with little or no play-by-play announcing experience, worked the Browns-Giants game. Fans called their work "horrible," "the worst I have ever heard on any sport on any level," "totally incompetent," and the like. Instead of doing the normal play-by-play with a former player analyzing the game, Golic and the others were instructed by George Veras, the Browns' vice president of broadcasting and production, to make it like three former players were miked while watching the game in the corner bar." Jeff Schudel, The News-Herald August 17, 2005
↑The Browns voided the WOIO contract in July 2006 after WOIO aired a news report on the drowning of team owner Randy Lerner's six-year-old niece, which included a 9-1-1 recording from Lerner's sister Nancy Fisher. This was public record, but the Browns considered it an invasion of the family's privacy.
↑"Briefly, the scenario was that Bob Kurtz (remember him?) and Gary Cruz handled the initial '78 telecast from Houston. But reaction against Kurtz' work was so vocal that KBTV brought in freelancer Joe Starkey to team with Cruz and Bobby Anderson on the final telecast from Buffalo." Bill Hirsch, Daily Camera, June 30, 1979 p. 8A
↑Call sign change from KOA-TV took effect August 12, 1983.
↑ abcdKUSA owns KTVD and is also the official Broncos station. In some years—such as 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2023—KTVD carried the entire preseason schedule.
Don Criqui (Aug. 8 & 15) or Dick Stockton (Aug. 22 & 28)
Hope Hines
1982
WMAR-TV 2
NBC
Scott Garceau
Tom Matte
1983
WMAR-TV 2
NBC
Scott Garceau
Tom Matte
1984
WTHR 13
NBC
Don Hein, Ronnie Duncan
1985
WTHR 13
NBC
Don Hein, Darrel Burnett
1986
WTHR 13
NBC
Don Hein, Darrel Burnett
1987
WTHR 13
NBC
Don Hein, Darrel Burnett
1988
WTHR 13
NBC
Don Hein, Darrel Burnett
1989
WTHR 13
NBC
Don Hein, Ronnie Duncan
1990
WTHR 13
NBC
Don Hein, Ronnie Duncan
1991
WTHR 13
NBC
Don Hein, Ronnie Duncan, Steve Bartelstein
1992
WTHR 13
NBC
Don Hein,
1993
WTTV 4
Ind.
Bob Lamey, Todd Blackledge, Jim Barbar
1994
WTTV 4
Ind.
Bob Lamey, Todd Blackledge
1995
WTTV 4
UPN
Don Fischer, Todd Blackledge
1996
WTTV 4
UPN
1997
WTTV 4
UPN
1998
WTTV 4
WB
Don Fischer
Barry Krauss
1999
WTTV 4
WB
Charles Arbuckle
2000
WTTV 4
WB
Don Fischer
Charles Arbuckle
2001
WTTV 4
WB
2002
WTTV 4
WB
Don Fischer
Charles Arbuckle
Mark Patrick
2003
WTTV 4
WB
Don Fischer
Charles Arbuckle
Mark Patrick
Dave Benz
2004
WTTV 4
WB
2005
WTTV 4
WB
Don Fischer
Mark Herrmann
2006
WTTV 4
WB
2007
WTTV 4
WB
2008
WTTV 4
WB
Don Fischer, Mark Herrmann, Jeffrey Gorman
2009
WTTV 4
WB
Don Fischer, Mark Herrmann, Jeffrey Gorman
2010
WTTV 4
WB
Don Fischer, Mark Herrmann, Jeffrey Gorman
2011
WNDY 23
Ind.
Don Fischer, Mark Herrmann, Jeffrey Gorman
2012
WNDY 23
Ind.
Don Fischer, Jim Sorgi, Jeffrey Gorman
2013
WNDY 23
Ind.
Don Fischer, Barry Krauss
2014
WNDY 23
Ind.
2015
WXIN 59
WTTV 4
Fox
CBS
2016
WXIN 59
WTTV 4
Fox
CBS
2017
WXIN 59
WTTV 4
Fox
CBS
2018
WXIN 59
WTTV 4
Fox
CBS
2019
WXIN 59
WTTV 4
Fox
CBS
2021
WXIN 59
WTTV 4
Fox
CBS
2022
WXIN 59
WTTV 4
Fox
CBS
2023
WXIN 59
WTTV 4
Fox
CBS
2024
WXIN 59
WTTV 4
Fox
CBS
2025
WXIN 59
WTTV 4
Fox
CBS
Greg Rakestraw, Joe Reitz
↑Brookshier had been hired for 1978, but he had a leg problem and could not do the telecasts. Brookshier could not do August 11 due to a CBS commitment, and Criqui was hired.
↑Intended pairing for these games was Dan Fouts and Pat Haden. Fouts was unable to work Weeks 1–3 due to commitments for Monday Night Football, so the separate TV commentary was scrapped.
Martin Kilcoyne, Trent Green, Rob Desir (1, 3–4) or Maurice Drummond (2)
2010
KTVI 2
Fox
Martin Kilcoyne, Aeneas Williams, Maurice Drummond
2011
KTVI 2
Fox
Andrew Siciliano, Ross Tucker (1) or Marshall Faulk (2–4), Maurice Drummond, Orlando Pace
2012
KTVI 2
Fox
Andrew Siciliano, Marshall Faulk, Maurice Drummond, Orlando Pace
2013
KTVI 2
Fox
Andrew Siciliano, Marshall Faulk, Torry Holt, Martin Kilcoyne
2014
KTVI 2
Fox
2015
KTVI 2
Fox
2016
KCBS-TV 2
CBS
2017
KCBS-TV 2
CBS
2018
KCBS-TV 2
CBS
2019
KCBS-TV 2
CBS
2021
KABC-TV 7
ABC
2022
KABC-TV 7
ABC
2023
KABC-TV 7
ABC
2024
KABC-TV 7
ABC
2025
KABC-TV 7
ABC
J.B. Long, Mina Kimes, Andrew Whitworth
↑KCBS reportedly pressured for the removal of Nahan, the sports director of rival KNBC-TV.
↑For 1985, KCBS-TV dropped the team at the 11th hour because the schedule had three home games it could not telecast. KDOC-TV tried but was unable to get a deal. The 1987 season represents the last time an NFL team did not televise its preseason games.
Charlie Jones, Jim Plunkett, Artie Gigantino, George Atkinson
2000
KTVU 2
KICU 36
Fox
Ind.
Charlie Jones, Jim Plunkett, Artie Gigantino, George Atkinson
2001
KTVU 2
KICU 36
Fox
Ind.
Charlie Jones, Jim Plunkett, Sean Jones, George Atkinson
2002
KTVU 2
KICU 36
Fox
Ind.
Jim Gray, Jim Plunkett (exc. vs. DAL), Sean Jones, George Atkinson
2003
KTVU 2
KICU 36
Fox
Ind.
Grant Napear, Jim Gray, Jim Plunkett, George Atkinson
2004
KTVU 2
KICU 36
Fox
Ind.
Grant Napear, Artie Gigantino, Jim Plunkett, JT The Brick
2005
KTVU 2
KICU 36
Fox
Ind.
Grant Napear, Artie Gigantino, Jim Plunkett, JT The Brick
2006
KTVU 2
KICU 36
Fox
Ind.
Greg Papa, Tom Flores, George Atkinson
2007
KTVU 2
KICU 36
Fox
Ind.
Greg Papa, Tom Flores, Jim Plunkett, George Atkinson
2008
KTVU 2
KICU 36
Fox
Ind.
Greg Papa, Tom Flores, George Atkinson, JT The Brick (Aug. 8 & 29 only)
2009
KTVU 2
KICU 36
Fox
Ind.
Greg Papa, Tom Flores, Jim Plunkett, George Atkinson
2010
KTVU 2
KICU 36
Fox
Ind.
Greg Papa, Tom Flores, Jim Plunkett, George Atkinson
2011
KTVU 2
KICU 36
Fox
Ind.
Greg Papa, Tom Flores, Jim Plunkett, George Atkinson
2012
KTVU 2
KICU 36
Fox
Ind.
Greg Papa, Tom Flores, Jim Plunkett, JT The Brick
2013
KTVU 2
Fox
Greg Papa, Tom Flores, Jim Plunkett, JT The Brick
2014
KTVU 2
Fox
2015
KTVU 2
Fox
2016
KTVU 2
Fox
2017
KTVU 2
Fox
2018
KTVU 2
Fox
2019
KTVU 2
Fox
2021
KVVU-TV 5
Fox
2022
KVVU-TV 5
Fox
2023
KVVU-TV 5
Fox
2024
KVVU-TV 5
Fox
2025
KVVU-TV 5
Fox
Jason Horowitz, Rich Gannon, Kirk Morrison
↑The Raiders' 1982 move to Los Angeles came late in the offseason and was highly contested. To get television time on KNBC, they had to move a game versus Green Bay back a day as the station was committed on Saturday.
↑Harmon had a kidney aneurysm and was unable to do at least the first preseason game, August 9. The game took place on Saturday and Speck did not have an announcer lined up as of Thursday.
For years in the 1970s and 1980s, Bob Speck Productions was the direct rightsholder and licensed the telecast rights to stations. They also were early in Spanish simulcasts of their games; Speck sold Spanish-language TV rights to KMEX in several years in the 1980s.
In the KTVU/KICU era, KICU usually aired the games that could not be aired live, while KTVU aired live telecasts.
Bob Griese (Aug. 15 vs. NO) or Nick Buoniconti (Aug. 29 vs. CHI)
Nat Moore
2003
WFOR-TV 4
CBS
Craig Bolerjack
Bob Griese or Nick Buoniconti (Aug. 28 vs. NO)
Nat Moore
2004
WFOR-TV 4
CBS
Craig Bolerjack
Bob Griese
Nat Moore
2005
WFOR-TV 4
CBS
Craig Bolerjack
Bob Griese (except Sept. 1 vs. ATL)
Nat Moore
Kim Bokamper
2006
WFOR-TV 4
CBS
Craig Bolerjack
Bob Griese (except Aug. 31 vs. STL)
Nat Moore
Kim Bokamper
2007
WFOR-TV 4
CBS
Craig Bolerjack
Bob Griese (except Aug. 30 @ NO)
Nat Moore
Kim Bokamper
2008
WFOR-TV 4
CBS
Craig Bolerjack
Bob Griese
Nat Moore
Kim Bokamper
2009
WFOR-TV 4
CBS
Craig Bolerjack
Bob Griese
Nat Moore
Kim Bokamper
2010
WFOR-TV 4
CBS
Dick Stockton
Bob Griese
Nat Moore
Kim Bokamper
2011
WFOR-TV 4
CBS
Dick Stockton
Bob Griese
Nat Moore
Kim Bokamper
2012
WFOR-TV 4
CBS
Dick Stockton
Bob Griese
Nat Moore
Kim Bokamper
2013
WFOR-TV 4
CBS
Jesse Agler
Bob Griese
Nat Moore
Kim Bokamper (2–4)
2014
WFOR-TV 4
CBS
2015
WFOR-TV 4
CBS
2016
WFOR-TV 4
CBS
2017
WFOR-TV 4
CBS
2018
WFOR-TV 4
CBS
2019
WFOR-TV 4
CBS
2021
WFOR-TV 4
CBS
2022
WFOR-TV 4
CBS
2023
WFOR-TV 4
CBS
2024
WFOR-TV 4
CBS
2025
WFOR-TV 4
CBS
Steve Goldstein
Kim Bokamper
Mike Cugno
↑Buoniconti returned to playing three games into the preseason.
↑During this time, Griese routinely missed the last week of the Dolphins' preseason schedule due to his commitment as a college football analyst at ABC. At the time, ABC had rights to the Kickoff Classic. See our college football pages for information on Griese's announcing assignments.
↑Same station after a channel number switch on September 10, 1995.
↑Griese was attending Don Shula's Hall of Fame enshrinement.
↑Not the one you're probably thinking of if you're from Minnesota. The Bob Kurtz that called the Minnesota North Stars and Wild and Golden Gophers and spent time in Boston is not this Bob Kurtz. This Bob Kurtz, a Virginia native, worked for KOA-TV in Denver (doing Broncos games there) and was hired by WTCN-TV ahead of its March 1979 switch to NBC. His style was unpopular, and he resigned by year's end.
↑WSMW obtained the rights on such short notice (they are not listed in Broadcasting), days before the first game, that they could not put together announcers. Instead, they split the costs and shared the announcers of each team they played. These are: Washington: Ray Scott and Warner Wolf. New Orleans: John Ferguson and Steve Stonebreaker. Pittsburgh: Dick Stockton and Jack Butler.
↑Games were not televised in 1984 as part of a plan to improve home attendance.
Tim Brando, Solomon Wilcots, Mike Nabors, Sean Kelley
2014
WVUE-DT 8
Fox
2015
WVUE-DT 8
Fox
2016
WVUE-DT 8
Fox
2017
WVUE-DT 8
Fox
2018
WVUE-DT 8
Fox
2019
WVUE-DT 8
Fox
2021
WVUE-DT 8
Fox
2022
WVUE-DT 8
Fox
2023
WVUE-DT 8
Fox
2024
WVUE-DT 8
Fox
2025
WVUE-DT 8
Fox
Joel Meyers, John Stinchcomb
↑The Saints played Philadelphia in Mexico City on August 5. There was room to send just one audio line back from Mexico City, and it was the Eagles announcers that were heard in both cities.
↑Matson was fired on August 12, 1979, by Insilco Sports Network. Matson also worked at WWL radio, and Insilco Sports Network president Al Smith found it a conflict of interest.
Kevin Reilly, Herm Edwards, Hugh Douglas, Dave Spadaro
2010
WPVI-TV 6
ABC
Don Tollefson, Hugh Douglas, Charlie Casserly, Jamie Apody
2011
WPVI-TV 6
ABC
Don Tollefson, Hugh Douglas, Brian Baldinger, Jeff Skversky
2012
WPVI-TV 6
ABC
Scott Graham, Brian Baldinger, Jeff Skversky
2013
WPVI-TV 6
ABC
Scott Graham, Brian Baldinger, Dave Spadaro
2014
WPVI-TV 6
ABC
Scott Graham, Brian Baldinger, Dave Spadaro
2015
WCAU 10
NBC
Scott Graham, Mike Mayock, Dave Spadaro
2016
WCAU 10
NBC
Scott Graham, Mike Mayock, Dave Spadaro
2017
WCAU 10
NBC
Scott Graham, Mike Mayock, Dave Spadaro
2018
WCAU 10
NBC
Scott Graham, Mike Mayock, Dave Spadaro
2019
WCAU 10
NBC
Scott Graham, Ross Tucker, Dave Spadaro
2021
WCAU 10
NBC
Scott Graham, Ross Tucker, Dave Spadaro
2022
WCAU 10
NBC
Scott Graham, Ross Tucker, Dave Spadaro
2023
WCAU 10
NBC
Scott Graham, Ross Tucker, Dave Spadaro
2024
WCAU 10
NBC
Scott Graham, Ross Tucker, Dave Spadaro
2025
WCAU 10
NBC
Scott Graham, Ross Tucker, Dave Spadaro
↑WCAU started with the team in either 1954 or 1961.
↑In 1995, WTXF used Fox Sports announcers and production to help the announcer teams get ready for the season. WTXF employees served as sideline reporters.
↑Albert worked both the Eagles and Jets in 1998. The Eagles played the Jets Week 1 (Aug. 6), and Olden called the Eagles telecast while Albert was on the Jets telecast.
↑As listed by The Times. Game was canceled due to turf condition issues.
↑Reportedly removed by Eagles management for asking Brian Westbrook about his contract situation. Bucks County Courier Times August 26, 2005
↑Tom Mees drowned August 14, 1996, in a swimming pool accident in Connecticut. Irv Cross filled in for Randy in Week 3 due to prior commitments.[1]
↑WFLA subcontracted WMOR in the 2004 season because the Bucs' schedule conflicted with the Olympics and Republican National Convention.
↑ abWTTA is co-owned with WFLA-TV and has relieved that station during Olympics conflicts. In some years, it has provided Spanish-language television coverage of the Bucs. Beginning in 2024, Spanish-language play-by-play has aired on WSNN-LD 39, which WFLA owner Nexstar Media Group acquired in 2023.
Cory Curtis, Eddie George (1&3) or Keith Bulluck (4), Joe Dubin
2009
WKRN-TV 2
ABC
Cory Curtis, Eddie George, Joe Dubin
2010
WKRN-TV 2
ABC
Cory Curtis, Eddie George, Dawn Davenport
2011
WKRN-TV 2
ABC
Cory Curtis, Eddie George, Kevin Carter, Dawn Davenport
2012
WKRN-TV 2
ABC
Cory Curtis, Keith Bulluck, Dawn Davenport
2013
WKRN-TV 2
ABC
Cory Curtis, Eddie George, Keith Bulluck, Dawn Davenport
2014
WKRN-TV 2
ABC
2015
WKRN-TV 2
ABC
2016
WKRN-TV 2
ABC
2017
WKRN-TV 2
ABC
2018
WKRN-TV 2
ABC
2019
WKRN-TV 2
ABC
2021
WKRN-TV 2
ABC
2022
WKRN-TV 2
ABC
2023
WKRN-TV 2
ABC
2024
WKRN-TV 2
ABC
2025
WKRN-TV 2
ABC
Paul Burmeister, Charles Davis
↑Road games only were seen in Houston. A full package was syndicated to Nashville (WSMV-TV 4, NBC).
Washington Commanders
Year
Station
Net.
Announcers
1970
WTOP-TV 9
CBS
Ray Scott
Warner Wolf
1971
WMAL-TV 7
ABC
Steve Gilmartin
Lonnie Sanders
1972
WMAL-TV 7
ABC
Steve Gilmartin
Lonnie Sanders
1973
WMAL-TV 7
ABC
Don Criqui
Irv Cross
1974
WMAL-TV 7
ABC
Duane Dow
Irv Cross
1975
WMAL-TV 7
ABC
Jim Thacker
Irv Cross
1976
WMAL-TV 7
ABC
Jim Thacker
Irv Cross
Steve Bassett
1977
WJLA-TV 7
ABC
Mike Patrick
Irv Cross
1978
WJLA-TV 7
ABC
Mike Patrick
Jerry Smith
1979
WJLA-TV 7
ABC
Mike Patrick
Irv Cross
1980
WJLA-TV 7
ABC
Tim Brant
Ron McDole
1981
WJLA-TV 7
ABC
Tim Brant
Irv Cross
1982
WJLA-TV 7
ABC
Tim Brant
Irv Cross
1983
WJLA-TV 7
ABC
Mike Patrick
Irv Cross
Tim Brant
1984
WTTG 5
Ind.
Chick Hearn
Sam Huff
1985
WTTG 5
Ind.
Dick Stockton
Sam Huff
1986
WTTG 5
Ind.
Dick Stockton
Sam Huff
1987
WTTG 5
Fox
Dick Stockton
Joe Theismann or John Riggins (Sept. 5 @LAR)
1988
WTTG 5
Fox
Curt Gowdy (Aug. 5) or Dick Stockton (Aug. 27)
Billy Kilmer
John Riggins
1989
WTTG 5
Fox
Dick Stockton
Billy Kilmer
John Riggins
1990
WTTG 5
Fox
Verne Lundquist
Bobby Mitchell
John Riggins
Steve Buckhantz
1991
WTTG 5
Fox
Steve Buckhantz
1992
WTTG 5
Fox
Verne Lundquist
Bobby Mitchell
Matt Millen
Steve Buckhantz
1993
WJLA-TV 7
ABC
1994
WJLA-TV 7
ABC
1995
WJLA-TV 7
ABC
1996
WJLA-TV 7
ABC
Dick Stockton
Matt Millen
John Riggins
1997
WJLA-TV 7
ABC
Dick Stockton
Matt Millen
John Riggins
Rene Knott
1998
WJLA-TV 7
ABC
Dick Stockton
Matt Millen
John Riggins
Rene Knott
1999
WRC-TV 4
NBC
Dick Stockton, Matt Millen, John Riggins, Jeff Bostic
2000
WRC-TV 4
NBC
George Michael, Sonny Jurgensen, Michael Wilbon
2001
WRC-TV 4
NBC
George Michael, Sonny Jurgensen, Michael Wilbon
2002
WRC-TV 4
NBC
George Michael, Sonny Jurgensen, Michael Wilbon
2003
WRC-TV 4
NBC
George Michael, Sonny Jurgensen, Michael Wilbon
2004
WUSA 9
CBS
Mike Patrick
Jeff Bostic or Joe Theismann
(Aug. 14, Sep. 3)
Frank Herzog
Jeff Bostic
(Aug. 21)
2005
WUSA 9
CBS
Mike Patrick, Joe Theismann
2006
WUSA 9
CBS
Mike Patrick, Joe Theismann
2007
WUSA 9
CBS
Mike Patrick, Joe Theismann
2008
WUSA 9
CBS
Mike Patrick, Joe Theismann, Kelli Johnson
2009
WRC-TV 4
NBC
Mike Patrick (Aug. 13 & 22) or Kenny Albert (Sep. 3), Joe Theismann, Lindsay Czarniak, Kelli Johnson
2010
WRC-TV 4
NBC
Kenny Albert (1, 3–4) or Mike Patrick (2), Joe Theismann, Doc Walker
2011
WRC-TV 4
NBC
Kenny Albert
Joe Theismann
Doc Walker
(1, 4)
Mike Patrick
Doc Walker
Charles Mann
(2)
2012
WRC-TV 4
NBC
Kenny Albert (1&4), Kevin Harlan (2) or Sam Rosen (3)
Joe Theismann
Antwaan Randle-El
2013
WRC-TV 4
NBC
Kenny Albert, Joe Theismann, Antwaan Randle-El
2014
WRC-TV 4
NBC
2015
WRC-TV 4
NBC
2016
WRC-TV 4
NBC
2017
WRC-TV 4
NBC
2018
WRC-TV 4
NBC
2019
WRC-TV 4
NBC
2021
WRC-TV 4
NBC
2022
WRC-TV 4
NBC
2023
WRC-TV 4
NBC
2024
WUSA 9
CBS
2025
WUSA 9
CBS
Chick Hernandez
Brian Mitchell
Bryan Colbert Jr.
References
↑Harry, Chris; Didtler, Mark (August 17, 1996). "Bucs notebook". The Orlando Sentinel. Orlando, Florida. p. B-4. Retrieved August 27, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.