Good Morning Football will be adding former NFL linebacker Manti Te’o to its full-time roster following the departure of Akbar Gbajabiamila. According to a report from Front Office Sports, Te’o will be joining full time after appearing on the show in a part-time but regular role over the past year.
Te’o joined the NFL Network in August of last year, following an eight-year career playing for three teams after starring at Notre Dame. Additionally, the former linebacker has appeared as an analyst during Netflix’ studio coverage of the NFL on Christmas Day.
So far, the NFL Network has not commented on the addition to the show.
Te’o would be joining a program where Gbajabiamila’s exit was the latest departure from the morning show on the NFL Network. Furthermore, Peter Schrager exited the program in March to take an insider role with ESPN. Since both Schrager and Gbajabiamila’s exit, the program has been using a rotation of guest hosts to work alongside Kyle Brandt and Jamie Erdahl. Notably, Brandt is the only remaining original member of the Good Morning Football program since it debuted in August of 2016.
Meanwhile, with the show moving from New York and now originating from Los Angeles, NFL Network changed the format to air as a two-hour program instead of a three-hour program.
Gbajabiamila will continue to co-host broadcasts of American Ninja Warrior, while Schrager took a position with ESPN where he will be featured on several programs within the network.
Te’o’s elevation to a full-time role with the program is happening while talks between ESPN and the NFL have reportedly re-surfaced regarding a possible acquisition of NFL Media. This would include the NFL Network as well as other properties. The NFL may opt out of its current agreement with Disney following the 2028–2029 season. Therefore, making an agreement for NFL Media now would benefit ESPN with more NFL content for its already vast host of live 24/7 channels. Moreover, it would benefit the league by finding a suitor to take hold of some assets which have not performed as well as originally thought.
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