NFL Network’s Scott Hanson opened up on his worries about his return to RedZone.
Hanson will be returning for his 17th season on NFL RedZone.
NFL Network host Scott Hanson speaking into a microphone alongside San Francisco 49ers star Brock Purdy[/caption]
Hanson is the host of NFL Network’s whip-around show RedZone, which provides coverage of the NFL’s Sunday afternoon games[/caption]
The 54-year-old Hanson signed a multi-year extension with NFL Network back in May.
However, Hanson recently revealed that his signing process included “knockdown drag-out negotiations” with the NFL Network.
Before his extension, there were reports that talks between Hanson and NFL Media had “stalled” and caused talking heads to believe that Hanson could move into a different network, including NBC.
The speculation came after Hanson helped out on the network’s whip-around coverage of the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Hanson recently discussed the difficulties he faced in the negotiations with NFL Media and admitted there was a time when he wasn’t positive he’d be back as the RedZone host for the upcoming season.
“We started talking before last season,” Hanson said during an appearance on the SI Media Podcast with Jimmy Traina.
“Once the season hit and we hadn’t reached the deal, I said I got to focus on the football here.
“I’m confident we’ll get something done. I’ve been the host of the show for 16 years now.
“. … [The NFL have] been good for me. I’d like to think I’ve been good for them.
“A reasonable mind should be able to come to an agreement here.
“However, the NFL as they want to do, they are very tough negotiators.”
“There was quite a knockdown drag-out negotiation, but I’m thrilled to be back.”
Luckily for Hanson, not only will he return to NFL RedZone, but he will also continue to host the Gold Zone Olympics coverage on NBC for the upcoming Winter Olympics in Italy.
The 54-year-old did share that past reports, which suggested he was thinking of joining NBC due to his history with the network, were close to the truth.
Hanson has been the host of RedZone since its 2009 inception[/caption]
“My contract was up, that was reported in public,” Hanson said.
“It was coming up, and we were negotiating. That was true.
“There was a feel I was going to leave for NBC.
“Well, it was conflated with what I did with Gold Zone for the Paris Olympics last summer, and the fact that I was and we were in the middle of a negotiation with NBC to come back and do future Gold Zones.
NFL important dates 2025 season
March 12 – Free Agency begins
April 24-26 – NFL Draft in Green Bay, Wisconsin
September 4 – 2025 season opener (TBC vs Eagles)
November 27 – Thanksgiving Day triple header
January 4, 2026 – End of regular-season
February 8, 2026 – Super Bowl LX at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California
“I think some people got part of the truth and reported that NBC was going to pull Scott Hanson away.”
Hanson will now return to host the whip-around NFL show this September.
The first Sunday of NFL action will take place on September 7.
