Old norms no longer apply in a rapidly changing and more fragmented media landscape. Inside the NFL has had to adapt to survive.
The once highlights-driven show was the place to watch Emmy-awarding recaps and analysis of America’s favorite sport. These days, the NFL has never been more popular, but the landmark show that contributed to its rise has a new game plan. Showrunner Steve Menzel hopes the last version of Inside the NFL will become must-see TV.
In its second season on The CW, Inside the NFL is now on Friday nights at 9 p.m. ET instead of Tuesday. The cast includes Bill Belichick, Ryan Clark, Chad Johnson, and Chris Long. The focus will shift to looking ahead to games rather than rehashing last week’s action. This edition of Inside the NFL is built for today’s audience.
“We’re not just locked into recapping games,” Menzel said in an interview with Awful Announcing. “People these days can see that in-game on Twitter, online somewhere, or if they have Red Zone. People have already seen most of the highlights. So I think by Friday, we’ve got to get a unique spot to kick the week off, look ahead to the week’s upcoming games, but also dive into topics that the guys find most interesting. Having Coach Belichick on the set, there’s no shortage of knowledge or interesting ideas.”
For decades, Inside the NFL , built its reputation by showing memorable footage. The images, sounds, and narration of NFL Films presented highlights theatrically, making it appointment viewing. That was your grandparents’, parents’, or older siblings’ experience. A younger audience doesn’t have the same connection simply because technology and habits have changed.
Inside the NFL , produced by The CW and NFL Films, still has access to a vast video vault. Footage from recent and older games will still be used—just in a different way.
“We have at our fingertips the NFL Films archive, which is incredible,” Menzel said. “When the guys tell a story, we can pull up all the corresponding footage. We have all the (video and sound) that NFL Films has captured for decades. We’ll still be able to use those elements.”
One of Inside the NFL ‘s biggest draws will be Belichick. The six-time Super Bowl champion coach has added several media jobs since leaving the New England Patriots last winter. He gives the show something it has never had before—access to the most accomplished pro football mind in history. As a coach, Belichick was infamous for often saying the bare minimum in press conferences. As a broadcaster, Belichick has been a revelation. In last week’s episode, he detailed what made safety Rodney Harrison a special player.
Menzel said he has been conscientious about making the best use of Belichick’s time.
“Belichick’s got a very busy fall,” he said. “He’s got a lot of media projects going on. From my end, you’ve got to be very organized and know what you want to do. He can talk football all day long. And part of the challenge is it’s an hour-long show. So we’ve got to make sure that we allocate the right amount of time for Coach when he’s in the show and the other guys too.”
To keep everyone involved, Clark is essentially the show’s point guard. He helps set up Belichick, Johnson, and Long while offering opinions. That’s not easy, but Clark has grown into the role with this being his second season on the show.
“Ryan came with a ton of reps, and he’s only gotten better,” Menzel said. “He’s been able to host Get Up a lot throughout the offseason. I think the most interesting thing about Ryan is not only just getting used to the mechanics of hosting, but he’s able to ask questions and follow up with the guys because he’s also an Emmy-winning analyst. He can wear two hats, which most hosts can’t do. I’m excited to see what he does in year two on his side.”
Will new and old viewers embrace this revamped version of Inside the NFL ? That’s the balancing act for this show. But clearly, it isn’t afraid to call audibles.
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