SI

Analyzing the Moment NFL Network, ESPN Got News of Sean McDermott’s Firing

Ian Rapoport and Adam Schefter were visibly flustered after learning the Bills fired their coach while on the air.
Jimmy Traina|
“Good Morning Football” viewers saw Ian Rapoport find out about Sean McDermott’s firing in real time.
“Good Morning Football” viewers saw Ian Rapoport find out about Sean McDermott’s firing in real time. | NFL Network

1. Sean McDermott’s firing Monday morning was surprising. I wouldn’t say it was shocking, but it was definitely surprising. Even so, given my cynical nature, I couldn’t help but laugh at how ESPN and the NFL Network covered the live breaking news.

Let’s start with the NFL Network and Good Morning Football. Insider Ian Rapoport was in the middle of talking to Kyle Brandt about the Broncos when a message popped on his phone. Watching Rapoport’s reaction in real time as he looked at his phone was hilarious and alarming at the same time. The dude was legitimately flustered.

The exchange that followed with Brandt was fantastic.

Brandt: “And then moments later, all the air goes out of the room and we find out the news about Bo Nix. Can you tell us the process about how you heard this and where we stand?”

Rapoport: “Uhhhh, no, I cannot, Kyle.”

Rapoport then left the show for the more than two minutes before returning to share the news that McDermott had been axed.

This ended up being great television, too, because the GMFB cast started cheering and clapping when Rapoport returned to the show, but he looked like he was at a funeral before telling everyone that McDermott got the boot.

Meanwhile, over on ESPN, Mike Greenberg gave us his “very serious news” persona.

“I have major breaking news,” Greenberg told the sports world while removing his glasses to show you that this was serious business.

“I’m just gonna break in with it right now. Schefty just ran out of the room, and I know now why he did. My control room may not know this yet, but it’s been on Twitter for 16 seconds. The Bills have fired Sean McDermott.”

Greenberg even held up his phone to show us the news was on Twitter as if we didn’t believe him and as if we could see what was on his phone.

Also, if it’s major breaking news, how about just tell us instead of dropping notes about Twitter and your control room? Meanwhile, poor Dan Orlovsky was acting like he had heard the world was about to end.

Greenberg then waved Schefter back to the set, but he still wanted viewers to know how serious this situation was.

“Schefty, come running back in here if you can. Let’s make sure his mic is on. We now understand why you got up and the chair flew behind us.”

Flying chairs, a completely distraught Orlovsky, Rapoport doing a triple take when he looked at his phone, a cast going from euphoric to somber in one fell swoop. I’d hate to see how all these people react when something important happens. This was just a football coach getting fired.

But the real lesson here is simple: Nothing beats live television.

2. If you watched all four games this week, it was crystal clear when Joe Buck and Troy Aikman have separated themselves from all the other top booths in the league. They are just working at a different level than Jim Nantz/Tony Romo, Kevin Burkhardt/Tom Brady and Mike Tirico/Cris Collinsworth.

A huge reason for this is that Aikman is the only one of the bunch who criticizes players. He does it in a legitimate and strong way. He’s always fair. It’s never over the top. No other analyst would’ve said this about C.J. Stroud on Sunday.

3. I’m not going to say anything here except this: Kevin. Harlan.

4. A couple of former NFL quarterbacks had good days on social media Sunday.

5. I’m not sure there’s a dumber piece of scheduling in all of sports than college football playing its championship game tonight.

The game should have been played Friday, leading into the massive NFL weekend. Instead, they’re playing the game tonight as a complete afterthought with no buzz and no juice. Sean McDermott will get more attention than Miami and Indiana in the hours leading up to the title game.

6. The latest SI Media With Jimmy Traina features an interview with NBC’s Mike Tirico.

Tirico talks about not knowing what NFC divisional game he would call until Joe Buck announced it to the public, calling his first Super Bowl on Feb. 8, going straight from the Super Bowl to hosting the Olympics for NBC and his epic call at the end of the Ravens-Steelers game in Week 18.

In addition, Tirico shares his thoughts on his interview with Michael Jordan that NBC chopped up into several segments and the public’s reaction to that being Jordan’s role with the network in its return to airing the NBA.

Following Tirico, Sal Licata joins me for our weekly “Traina Thoughts” segment. This week’s topics include the NFL playoffs, old-school wresting content and more.

You can listen to the SI Media With Jimmy Traina podcast below or on Apple and Spotify.

You can also watch SI Media With Jimmy Traina on YouTube.

7. RANDOM VIDEO OF THE DAY: Happy 80th birthday to Dolly Parton.

Be sure to catch up on past editions of Traina Thoughts and check out the Sports Illustrated Media Podcast hosted by Jimmy Traina on Apple, Spotify or Google. You can also follow Jimmy on X and Instagram.

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Jimmy Traina
JIMMY TRAINA

Jimmy Traina is a staff writer and podcast host for Sports Illustrated. A 20-year veteran in the industry, he’s been covering the sports media landscape for seven years and writes a daily column, Traina Thoughts. Traina has hosted the Sports Illustrated Media Podcast since 2018, a show known for interviews with some of the most important and powerful people in sports media. He also was the creator and writer of SI’s Hot Clicks feature from 2007 to '13.

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