NFL

#TBT: NFL returns to ABC for the first time in 10 years during Wild Card Weekend

Photo of Bill Hofheimer Bill Hofheimer Follow on Twitter January 7, 2016
On Feb. 5, 2006, the Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Seattle Seahawks, 21-10, to win Super Bowl XL at Ford Field in Detroit. The game aired on ABC. Pictured during the postgame trophy presentation (L-R): Game MVP WR Hines Ward; Steelers RB and current ESPN analyst Jerome Bettis; ESPN commentator Mike Tirico and Steelers head coach Bill Cowher. (Ida Mae Astute/ABC)
Some prominent figures pictured above during the Super Bowl XL postgame trophy presentation include (L-R): Steelers WR Hines Ward, the game’s MVP; Steelers RB and current ESPN analyst Jerome Bettis; ESPN commentator Mike Tirico; Steelers head coach Bill Cowher. (Ida Mae Astute/ABC)

Today’s #TBT coincides with this weekend’s Kansas City Chiefs-Houston Texans NFL Playoff game on ESPN. The AFC Wild Card matchup will air on ESPN, in Spanish on ESPN Deportes, and be streamed live on WatchESPN (Saturday, 4:20 p.m. ET).

Tirico (left) with Kolber during Super Bowl XL 2006. (Courtesy of Suzy Kolber)
Mike Tirico with Suzy Kolber during Super Bowl XL. (Photo courtesy of Suzy Kolber)

For the first time, the game (and the Postseason NFL Countdown pregame special at 3 ET) will be simulcast on ABC, making it the first NFL game on the network in 10 years – since Super Bowl XL in Detroit in February 2006.

Two current members of ESPN’s NFL team were part of ABC’s Super Bowl broadcast a decade ago. Monday Night Football play-by-play voice Mike Tirico hosted pregame studio coverage, as well as the postgame Lombardi Trophy celebration with the champion Pittsburgh Steelers.

Countdown host Suzy Kolber, then the sideline reporter for ESPN’s Sunday Night Football, worked the Super Bowl broadcast, covering the Seattle Seahawks.

Both Tirico and Kolber will play major roles in ESPN’s coverage in Houston this weekend.

Photo of Bill Hofheimer Bill Hofheimer Follow on Twitter January 7, 2016
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