Tom Jackson "likely will not return to ESPN’s 'Sunday NFL Countdown'" this coming season, according to Bob Raissman of the N.Y. DAILY NEWS. A source said that Jackson "has been contemplating his TV future for quite awhile." Sources "could not confirm if ESPN brass wanted to remove Jackson from his 'Sunday Countdown' post and asked him to move to another platform." Raissman notes Jackson has been on "Countdown" for 28 years, and considering his "stature at ESPN, and the respect and acclaim he has received, it stands to reason he could be given a role on another ESPN NFL show." If Jackson leaves the show, it will "mark a complete overhaul of the Sunday pregame show's team of analysts." ESPN removed Cris Carter, Mike Ditka, Keyshawn Johnson and Ray Lewis from the show after the '15 season, and has signed Matt Hasselbeck, Randy Moss and Charles Woodson "to replace the departed" analysts. The net last month also re-signed Trent Dilfer and "added 'Sunday Countdown' to his 'Monday Night Countdown' assignment" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 7/26). PRO FOOTBALL TALK's Mike Florio cited a source as saying that ESPN's decision to bring back Dilfer "arose in part from Jackson's decision to leave." Florio noted Jackson had "long been regarded as being tied at the hip with on-air partner Chris Berman." With Berman reportedly entering his last year at ESPN, it is "somewhat odd that Jackson wouldn't want to do a victory lap with Berman" (PROFOOTBALLTALK.com, 7/25).
