In commemoration of the 50th anniversary of “The NFL Today,” CBS Sports treated its viewers to a nostalgic experience during Week 3 of the 2025 NFL season by unveiling a virtual, retro-style set. The show, broadcasted from the CBS Broadcast Center, ingeniously blended elements from the sets used during the show's early years, from its launch in 1975 through 1980.
J.P. LoMonaco, vice president of design for CBS Sports, shared with NCS that the virtual set, driven by Zero Density technology, featured a digital reimagining of how on-screen information was presented in the past. This included a physical sign reminiscent of old stadium scoreboards, complete with cutouts and slide-out panels for displaying team names and data.
Adding to the celebratory atmosphere, Brent Musburger, a former co-host of “NFL Today” from 1975 to 1990, joined the current team of hosts and analysts, including James Brown, Bill Cowher, Nate Burleson, and Matt Ryan, for the anniversary show on Sept. 21, 2025.
The show also incorporated classic graphics and the original theme music. Lomonaco and his team meticulously recreated a complete suite of animated and insert graphics inspired by the visual style of the late 1970s. While these graphics were produced in a modern 16:9 aspect ratio and broadcast in high definition, special “filters” were applied to authentically capture the vintage aesthetic. The opening sequence was also reimagined with the current roster of talent, and Musburger's name was highlighted with a "featuring" credit. Furthermore, CBS created a production card in a retro style.
As J.P. LoMonaco, vice president of design for CBS Sports, told NCS: "The show, which was shot at the CBS Broadcast Center, combined the features of sets the show used from its debut in 1975 through 1980."