If you’ve tuned into FOX at 11:00 AM ET on a Sunday lately, you probably noticed the vibe is a little different than it was a couple of seasons ago. The chairs are the same, the LED lights are brighter than ever, but some of the faces you grew used to seeing have vanished. It’s not just your imagination. The fox nfl kickoff cast went through a massive "rebirth" recently, and honestly, it’s about time someone cleared up the confusion on who is actually still on the payroll.
Television is a cutthroat business, but sometimes people leave for the weirdest reasons. One guy became a head coach. Another jumped ship to the "enemy" at ESPN. Then you have the mainstays who feel like they’ve been there since the invention of the forward pass.
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The Core Three: Who Is Running the Show Now?
Basically, the "big three" right now are Charissa Thompson, Charles Woodson, and Julian Edelman.
Charissa is the glue. She’s been doing this since 2013, and despite some internet rumors that she was leaving (which she shut down pretty aggressively on her podcast), she signed a multi-year extension in 2025. She’s the ringmaster. She’s the one making sure Woodson and Edelman don’t just talk about their Super Bowl rings for sixty minutes straight.
Then you’ve got the players.
- Charles Woodson: The Hall of Famer is in his third-ish season as a full-time analyst here. He’s been a FOX staple since 2019, but he’s busier than ever now that he’s a limited partner for the Cleveland Browns.
- Julian Edelman: He was the big "get" a couple of years back. After Inside the NFL got moved around, FOX snatched him up. He brings that jittery, high-energy New England energy that balances out Woodson's more laid-back, "I’ve seen it all" Hall of Fame aura.
The Departures: Where Did Everyone Go?
This is where people get confused. If you’re looking for Peter Schrager or Michael Vick, you’re going to be looking for a while. They aren't there.
Schrager was a fixture on this show for years. He was the "insider" guy who always seemed to know which rookie was about to have a breakout game. But in early 2025, he made the jump to ESPN. You’ll see him on Get Up and NFL Live now. FOX decided not to replace his specific role with another "insider," choosing instead to let the former players handle the heavy lifting.
And then there’s Michael Vick. His exit wasn't about a contract dispute or a rival network. He actually left to become the head coach at Norfolk State. It’s a pretty wild career pivot—going from a climate-controlled studio in Los Angeles to the sidelines of an FCS program in Virginia.
"It’s a new beginning," Charissa Thompson mentioned on her Calm Down podcast. She wasn't kidding. With Schrager and Vick gone, the desk is a lot less crowded, which honestly makes the conversation feel a bit more natural.
What About Colin Cowherd and the Manning Hour?
You’ll still see Colin Cowherd popping in. He isn't there every single minute of the hour, but he provides those "big picture" segments that usually end up being a clip people argue about on X (formerly Twitter) for the rest of the afternoon.
And yes, Cooper Manning is still around doing "The Manning Hour." It’s easily the most "non-football" part of the show. One week he’s talking to a defensive tackle about baking, and the next he’s doing something equally absurd. It provides the comic relief that the show needs before the 1:00 PM ET games start and everything gets way too serious.
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Why the Show Looks So Different in 2026
If the show looks "expensive," that’s because it is. FOX moved the fox nfl kickoff cast into a brand-new, high-tech studio recently. We’re talking 54 million LED lights and augmented reality (AR) tech that makes it look like the stats are floating in mid-air.
It’s part of a broader strategy. FOX knows they have the "B-show" slot (with FOX NFL Sunday being the "A-show"), so they’ve leaned into a younger, faster-paced style. While the noon show with Terry Bradshaw and Howie Long feels like a comfortable Sunday dinner with your uncles, the 11:00 AM show with Edelman and Woodson feels more like a pre-game tailgate.
How to Keep Up With the Changes
The best way to see the current chemistry of the fox nfl kickoff cast is to watch the opening segment. That’s usually where you’ll see if they have a guest analyst for the week. Since Jimmy Johnson retired from the main pregame show, there’s been some shuffling of talent between the two programs, with guys like Rob Gronkowski occasionally sliding over to the 11:00 AM slot to cause some chaos.
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If you’re trying to follow the team's insights throughout the week:
- Check Social Media: The show’s official accounts post the "Manning Hour" and Cowherd’s "Blazing Five" picks almost immediately.
- Listen to Podcasts: Charissa Thompson and Erin Andrews’ Calm Down podcast is usually where the "real" news about behind-the-scenes changes breaks first.
- Watch the "Game-Breaks": Charissa also handles the live updates during the actual games, so her role at the network has actually expanded despite the cast shakeups around her.
The cast might look different than it did in 2023, but the vibe remains focused on the "why" of the games rather than just the "what." It’s less about dry stats and more about the personality of the guys who actually played the game.
Check the local listings for your FOX affiliate, as some markets still opt for local programming or infomercials during that 11:00 AM slot, but for most of the country, this is the definitive start to the NFL Sunday.
Next Step: You can now check your local FOX affiliate's schedule to confirm if they carry the full hour of the pregame show or if they join the broadcast at noon for the main show.