Bob Costas is coming back to NBC Sports, nearly six years after stepping away from the network where he made his name.<\/p>\n
NBC announced Thursday<\/a> that Costas will host the pregame show for Sunday Night Baseball when the network\u2019s primetime MLB package kicks off in March. He\u2019ll begin with NBC\u2019s Opening Day broadcast<\/a> on March 26, when the Los Angeles Dodgers raise their World Series banner against the Arizona Diamondbacks.<\/p>\n In a statement, Costas called NBC his \u201ctrue broadcasting home\u201d for 40 years and expressed gratitude to NBC Sports president Rick Cordella and NBC Sports production chief Sam Flood for bringing him back into the fold. He previously worked NBC\u2019s MLB coverage from 1982\u201389 and again from 1994\u20132000, teaming with Tony Kubek on Game of the Week broadcasts and calling multiple World Series, including the full 1997 and 1999 Fall Classics.<\/p>\n He left NBC in 2019 and officially stepped away from play-by-play<\/a> after calling TBS\u2019 ALDS coverage in 2024.<\/p>\n \u201cAs appreciative as I am of other aspects of my career, especially HBO and the MLB Network, for 40 years, my true broadcasting home was NBC,\u201d Costas said. \u201cSo many great moments, memories, and friendships. Now, I am very grateful to Rick Cordella and Sam Flood for inviting me back in an emeritus role to conclude my career where so much of it played out.\u201d<\/p>\n Cordella<\/a> cited Costas\u2019 long history with both baseball and the network as the main reason for the return, describing the role as an \u201cemeritus\u201d assignment as Costas winds down his broadcasting career.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re excited that Bob has agreed to come home to NBC Sports, where he helped make baseball an iconic brand earlier in his career for so many years,\u201d added the NBC Sports president. \u201cThere is no more knowledgeable, authoritative, and passionate voice on baseball than Bob Costas.\u201d<\/p>\n NBC has not yet announced its full Sunday Night Baseball booth. Fox\u2019s Jason Benetti has emerged as the leading candidate<\/a> for the play-by-play role, with Orioles TV voice Kevin Brown also reportedly in consideration<\/a>. The network is also reportedly targeting recently retired Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw<\/a> for select studio appearances.<\/p>\n