John Dockery was the initial color commentator for Sunday Night Football, serving under Buck and Nantz. Beginning in 1990 and continuing until 1997, Dockery split the color commentator duties with Pat Haden. Dockery would work the first half of the season while Haden called games with Skip Caray, Gary Bender, and Verne Lundquist on Turner Network Television, and Haden would replace Dockery alongside Nantz and David for the games that ESPN would carry on television. Haden left Westwood One after the 1997 season to take over the position as lead analyst on Notre Dame's television broadcasts.