Inside the NFL Inside the NFL is a weekly cable television sports show that focuses on the National Football League . It originally aired on HBO from 1977 through 2008 . Following Super Bowl XLII , HBO announced that it would be dropping the program , and it was subsequently picked up by the Showtime network . Each NFL season , the program airs from Week 1 of the regular season until the week after the Super Bowl . The show principally features highlights of the past week ' s games that were captured by NFL Films , in addition to commentary and analysis by the hosts , and occasional interviews with current and former NFL players and personnel . History . " Inside the NFL " first aired in 1977 and is cable television ' s longest running series . The show is significant for being the first major sports - related program to air on the then relatively new HBO network . Perhaps more significant is the fact that it was the first NFL - related program to air on cable . The original hosts were Al Meltzer and Chuck Bednarik . 1978 – 2001 . In 1978 , Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Len Dawson joined the program ( replacing Chuck Bednarik ) and Merle Harmon subsequently replaced Al Meltzer . In 1980 , Merle Harmon left as Len Dawson was joined by fellow Hall of Famer and former Miami Dolphins linebacker Nick Buoniconti . In 1989 , Cris Collinsworth joined as an on - air reporter . In 1990 , Cris Collinsworth joined Dawson and Buoniconti as the third host . Several former players and coaches served as co - host throughout this period including Jimmy Johnson and Jerry Glanville . End of the Dawson – Buoniconti era . After the 2001 NFL season , Len Dawson and Nick Buoniconti retired from the show . From 2002 – 2007 seasons , the show was hosted by Bob Costas with former players Dan Marino , Cris Collinsworth , and Cris Carter serving as co - hosts . Bob Costas acknowledged this change in the season ' s first episode and paid tribute to the former hosts , saying they paved the way for the show to succeed . In addition to the change in hosts , " Inside the NFL " also featured segments featuring comics such as George Lopez , Jim Florentine , Lewis Black and Wanda Sykes . During the last three weeks of the 2005 NFL season , " Real Sports " host Bryant Gumbel filled in for Bob Costas . Costas was unavailable because he was in Turin , Italy preparing to cover the 2006 Winter Olympics for NBC . In a special 30th anniversary episode which aired in December 2006 , Len Dawson and Nick Buoniconti were invited back to co - host the show . Cancellation , rebirth , and move to Showtime . On February 6 , 2008 , HBO suddenly announced that the show would end its run after 31 seasons . HBO Sports cited increased competition in NFL - related programming since the show ' s inception as a reason for its cancellation . Skeptics however , believe that the real reason for HBO ' s decision to drop the show was due to the increasing cost for usage of the NFL Films produced highlights . In the final episode , a taped montage with highlights from the series ' 31 seasons was aired . In addition , former hosts Dawson and Buoniconti did the final signoff as the credits rolled . Bob Costas soon regarded the cancellation by HBO as being a " boneheaded " move . On June 3 , 2008 , CBS Sports and NFL Films announced that " Inside the NFL " had found a new home on CBS Corporation - owned Showtime and would air on Wednesdays starting September 10 ( 9 p . m . ET / PT ) on the cable channel . " Inside the NFL " aired every Wednesday throughout the 2008 NFL season through Wednesday , February 11 , 2009 . It is produced by CBS Sports and NFL Films . On July 6 , it was announced that James Brown would host " Inside the NFL " , the role Bob Costas had on HBO . Brown will also be joined by lead CBS NFL analyst Phil Simms , retired former Defensive Player of the Year Warren Sapp and the returning Cris Collinsworth . Jenn Brown joined the team as the first female special correspondent on the show . Her main responsibility would be to do various features throughout the season . While Sapp was competing on " Dancing with the Stars " , former Pittsburgh Steelers head coach and current " NFL Today " analyst Bill Cowher along with former Washington Redskins quarterback Joe Theismann filled in . Format . Much like other shows on pay - cable networks , " Inside the NFL " had the freedom to stray from the traditional network format for its program . While the basic elements were the same as any other sports recap show by featuring highlights of the weeks games and discussion of events around the league , the fact that there were no commercials allowed the panel to discuss subjects at length without the normal network time restrictions . Highlights . The highlight segments consisted of NFL Films footage of the past week ' s games with narration by Harry Kalas ( following Kalas ' death in 2009 , Scott Graham took over as the narrator ) . This had long been considered a major asset of the show as the game highlights usually exceed the typical 15 – 30 second token package seen on most major networks . This was the case at least until the NFL Network emerged during the 2003 season and aired shows such as the show " Point After " that showed extended highlight segments . In the last few years of " Inside the NFL " , the show decreased its highlight segments , eliminating some low - profile games . Interviews . Aside from the highlights , " Inside the NFL " always focused on in depth interview segments with various players , coaches and front office personnel . Among the notable segments over the years was Cris Carter interviewing former coach Buddy Ryan . Ryan was Carter ' s first head coach when both were with the Philadelphia Eagles in the late 1980s and early 1990s . Ryan released Carter with his explanation being the infamous quote " " All he does is catch touchdowns . " " The interview revealed what some had learned over the years , that Ryan released Carter because of his substance abuse problems that were affecting his performance . Carter admitted that his release was a wake - up call and saved his life as he became a born again Christian soon after , and went on to have a successful NFL career with the Minnesota Vikings in which he became the NFL ' s second leading receiver of all - time . Production . HBO . The show was taped in a New York City studio on Wednesday and aired at various times throughout the week beginning Wednesday nights at 10 p . m . Eastern Time . Showtime . The show is taped at NFL Films ' headquarters in Mount Laurel , NJ on Wednesdays and aired at various times throughout the week beginning Wednesday nights at 9 p . m . Eastern Time .