Three options FOX NFL Sunday have to give Terry Bradshaw new partner in crime

The FOX NFL Sunday lineup is set for a significant shake-up in 2025, as veteran analyst Jimmy Johnson, 81, steps down. In March, the former Dallas Cowboys head coach announced his retirement from the show, describing it an "extremely difficult decision."

The remaining team, consisting of host Curt Menefee and pundits Terry Bradshaw, Howie Long, Michael Strahan, and Rob Gronkowski, is still definitely a star-studded line-up.

But FOX now face the task of filling Johnson's vacant spot. They could consider another ex-coach, a former Cowboys player to maintain ties with the team, or leave the position open for a year as they hold out for a major signing.

Given their impressive broadcasting talent, including Tom Brady, who signed a massive 10-year, $375 million deal last year, they have numerous options.

Ron Rivera

A possible candidate for the ex-coach role is Rivera, the current general manager for the University of California football team, his alma mater. Rivera was a key player in the Chicago Bears' acclaimed "Monsters of the Midway" defense in the 1980s.

After more than a decade of NFL coaching and securing two NFL Coach of the Year accolades for his tenure with the Carolina Panthers, Rivera-nicknamed "Riverboat Ron" due to his audacious fourth-down strategies-suddenly found himself without a team when the Washington Commanders released him after the 2023 season.

With a background in television that dates back to the '90s with SportsChannel Chicago and, more recently, NFL Live on ESPN last season, Rivera is positioned to break new ground as potentially the first person of Latin descent to grace the set of FOX NFL Sunday.

Michael Irvin

Then we have Irvin, who etched his name into Dallas Cowboys folklore as a three-time Super Bowl champion, who stands at second in franchise history with 11,904 receiving yards. The Pro Football Hall of Famer's vibrant commentary matches his historic on-field achievements.

Irvin has carved out a legacy in broadcasting with unforgettable moments during his 15 years at NFL Network before departing in 2024. A s staunch Cowboys fan, he continues to keep warm relations with many in the current roster and shares a good friendship with Johnson, his coach from the glory days of the 1990s.

Irvin has already claimed his seat at the FOX table as part of the 'Speak' hosting panel, which features star-studded names like Paul Pierce, Keyshawn Johnson and Joy Taylor.

Travis Kelce

Simply put, Kelce's relationship with pop sensation Taylor Swift has thrust him into the limelight, making him one of the most well-known figures in American sport. He's set to keep playing for the Kansas City Chiefs for at least another season, but age appears to be catching up with him, having been restricted to just four catches in the Super Bowl LIX defeat.

While he won't be retiring imminently, his star power would no doubt draw in the masses.