Tirico, Doug Flutie & Kathryn Tappen to call games
Chris Simms joins NBC Sports as studio analyst alongside Notre Dame on NBC host Liam McHugh
27th season of Notre Dame Football on NBC kicks off with Fighting Irish hosting Temple on Saturday, Sept. 2
Mike Tirico, NBC Sports Group's veteran play-by-play commentator and Olympic primetime host, will join NBC Sports' Notre Dame football coverage this season as its play-by-play voice. Analyst Doug Flutie, who returns for his third season, and sideline reporter Kathryn Tappen, who returns for her fourth season, will join Tirico.
Tirico called three Notre Dame football games on NBC last season, while Dan Hicks was on assignment covering the PGA Tour's FedExCup Playoffs. Tirico joined NBC Sports Group in July 2016 to work on an array of high-profile properties, including the Olympics, NFL, horse racing, golf and other big events. In February, Tirico was named NBC's primetime Olympic host. This May, Tirico was named NBC's play-by-play voice for NBC's "Thursday Night Football," primetime television's No. 2 show.
"Mike has been an elite play-by-play voice in both professional and collegiate football for more than a decade," said Sam Flood, executive producer and president of production, NBC Sports. "He is the latest in a line of distinguished broadcasters to call Notre Dame football on NBC, including Dick Enberg, Charlie Jones, Tom Hammond, Don Criqui and Dan Hicks. We look forward to hearing Mike call the first-ever game at the newly renovated Notre Dame Stadium against Temple on Sept. 2 on NBC."
Tirico succeeds Hicks, who was the play-by-play voice for Notre Dame football on NBC the past four seasons. This fall, Hicks will focus on NBC Sports Group's coverage of the PGA Tour's FedExCup and President's Cup, as well as downhill skiing events in advance of the upcoming 2018 PyeongChang Olympics.
Former NFL quarterback Chris Simms will join Notre Dame football coverage as a studio analyst for the 2017 season. Simms previously served as a football analyst for FOX Sports and CBS. He played at the University of Texas from 1999-2002, and for the NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tennessee Titans and Denver Broncos from 2003-10. Simms will provide on-site studio commentary alongside host Liam McHugh, who returns for his seventh season anchoring NBC's studio coverage of Notre Dame football.
In addition to his work on Notre Dame football, Simms will also serve as a co-host on Mike Florio's daily "PFT Live" show. The program airs on NBC Sports Radio, a joint venture between NBC Sports Group and Westwood One, weekdays from 6-9 a.m. ET, and simulcasts on NBCSN from 7-9 a.m. Simms will also make weekly appearances on programs across the NBC Sports Regional Networks.
"We're excited to welcome Chris to the NBC Sports family," Flood said. "His playing experience and deep knowledge of football at the collegiate and professional levels, along with his extensive broadcasting experience, make him a great fit for our Notre Dame and 'PFT Live' coverage."
Notre Dame football on NBC
NBC Sports Group and Notre Dame will kick off the 27th season of football together when the Fighting Irish host the Temple Owls on Saturday, Sept. 2 (3:30 p.m.), from Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Indiana.
NBC Sports' coverage of the 2017 season is highlighted by primetime matchups vs. Georgia on Saturday, Sept. 9 (7:30 p.m.), and vs. 2017 Rose Bowl Champion USC on Saturday, Oct. 21 (7:30 p.m.).
Continuing one of college football's greatest rivalries, this season's USC-Notre Dame game will mark the 89th time the two storied programs will face each other, with the rivalry dating back to 1926.
