With a little more than a month until its first exclusive NFL regular-season game, YouTube signed Hall of Famer Kurt Warner as its lead game analyst, but is still in search of a play-by-play caller, according to sources briefed on the discussions.
YouTube is expected to put its mark on the Sept. 5 game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Los Angeles Chargers. It will likely have some of its biggest personalities hosting “Watch Along” type streams, where viewers potentially experience the game with YouTube influencers.
“We’ll do it in a way that only YouTube can, with an interactive viewing experience and creators right at the center of the experience,” said Mary Ellen Coe, chief business officer of YouTube, in a release for the official game announcement.
A YouTube spokesperson declined to comment on Warner’s signing.
On the traditional broadcast, which will likely garner the most views globally, Warner will provide the commentary. Warner is the lead “Monday Night Football” analyst for Westwood One Radio, calling the Super Bowl every season, and does about seven games for NFL Network. Play-by-play caller Rich Eisen joins Warner on the NFL Network’s games.
YouTube is expected to find a play-by-play caller, but its search has been made more difficult because most network-level football announcers have games on opening weekend. The Chiefs and Chargers face off on Friday, Sept. 5, which basically eliminates all college and NFL broadcasters, who have games on Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. Networks have also been more hesitant to help out the streamers, though NBC is handling the production for YouTube for a fee.
Last season, ESPN, CBS, Fox and NBC provided broadcasters to Netflix on Christmas Day, but this season, they have been reluctant to loan out their big personalities. CBS, which is handling the production for Netflix, has been willing.
The Athletic previously reported that CBS’ Nate Burleson and Matt Ryan are in the mix for Netflix’s doubleheader, while the non-network affiliated Drew Brees has signed as a game analyst.
(Photo: Brooke Sutton / Getty Images)