Football Legend Phil Simms Returns to NBC for Big Ten Games This Fall

Big Ten Football is making its way back to NBC and Peacock to kick off the 2025 season, and fans are in for a treat with the return of none other than football and broadcasting legend, Phil Simms.

Phil Simms, a two-time Super Bowl Champion and a veteran of 30 years in football broadcasting, will be joining NBC Sports for the Big Ten coverage this season. He’s set to provide color commentary for select Big Ten matchups airing on Peacock starting August 29, when the Illinois Fighting Illini face off against the Western Illinois Leathernecks exclusively on Peacock. And to add to the excitement, he’ll be sharing the booth with play-by-play announcer Paul Burmeister.

Expressing his excitement for the opportunity, Phil Simms shared, “I am very happy to be working again for NBC Sports doing college football games. I have had a great relationship with Paul Burmeister over many years so I know it going to be fun and exciting to work with him. I appreciate NBC for giving me this opportunity and I can’t wait for the college football season to start.”

Phil Simms has an impressive background in football. After playing college football at Morehead State, he was drafted into the NFL in 1979 by the New York Giants, where he spent his entire 14-season football career. Known as one of the top quarterbacks of the 1980s, he led the Giants to victory in Super Bowl XXI and XXV, earning himself the MVP award for Super Bowl XXI. His standout performance in Super Bowl XXI included leading the Giants to a 39-20 win over the Denver Broncos, with an incredible 88 percent completion rate, which remains a Super Bowl record to this day.

After a successful career in the NFL, Phil Simms transitioned into broadcasting, starting with NBC Sports in 1995 as an NFL analyst for Super Bowls XXX and XXXII. He later moved to CBS Sports, where he became a regular on their NFL coverage for over two decades before returning to NBC Sports in 2025 to focus on college football. Joining his son Chris, a former NFL quarterback, Phil will be calling three games throughout the 2025 season.

If you’re eager for the college football action to start, mark your calendars for August 29 when the Peacock-exclusive game between Western Illinois and Illinois kicks off. And remember, NBC and Peacock will have an exciting lineup of Big Ten and Notre Dame games throughout the season. Stay tuned for more college football news and updates on NBC Sports.