Scott Hanson is returning to host NFL RedZone this fall after signing a multi-year contract with NFL Network in May. The longtime RedZone host made the announcement via his personal X account after much speculation about whether the network would come to terms with the veteran.
Additionally, Hanson discussed the recent negotiations during an appearance on the SI Media Podcast with Jimmy Traina, saying the discussions didn’t go exactly as he had expected.
“We started talking before last season. Once the season hit and we hadn’t reached the deal, I said I got to focus on the football here. I’m confident we’ll get something done. I’ve been the host of the show for 16 years now. I’ve been with the NFL for 18 seasons. They’ve been good for me. I’d like to think I’ve been good for them. A reasonable mind should be able to come to an agreement here. However, the NFL as they want to do, they are very tough negotiators,” said Hanson.
Furthermore, Hanson revealed that the league and his representatives considered his responsibilities outside of RedZone as part of the broader contract discussions. Ultimately, he expressed satisfaction in returning to the place he has called home for nearly two decades.
“There was quite a knockdown drag out negotiation, but I’m thrilled to be back. Thrilled that we were able to come to an agreement,” said Hanson. “To think that I would be on the show for 20 years, and have it be as successful as it has been, as it most likely will be, is extraordinary. I’m very blessed.”
At one point, however, Hanson admitted he thought he might not return to the network, likening the experience to being a free agent in the NFL.
“There was a time when I thought, I don’t know if this is going to happen,” said Hanson. “It was not my intention to kind of go that direction, but you have to be willing for that eventuality or that possibility.”
Moreover, during the spring, Hanson was reportedly in discussions with other networks, including NBC. He assisted with Peacock’s coverage of the 2024 Summer Olympic Games via Gold Zone. He later clarified that there was misinformation regarding those talks, which created a somewhat confusing narrative.
“My contract was up, that was reported in public. It was coming up, and we were negotiation. That was true,” explained Hanson. “There was a feel I was going to leave for NBC. Well, it was conflated with what I did with Gold Zone for the Paris Olympics last summer, and the fact that I was and we were in the middle of a negotiation with NBC to come back and do future Gold Zones. I think some people got part of the truth and reported that NBC was going to pull Scott Hanson away. Ultimately, we were able to do deals with both because they don’t directly conflict with football season. I’m very glad that the kind of best of both worlds happened.”
Looking ahead, Hanson is eager to return to the studio this football season and continue delivering every touchdown to fans around the globe.
“I love my job. I love hosting RedZone, and I hope that comes across,” said Hanson. “I love serving the football public, and that’s why I look at myself as a servant. I’m not doing it to glorify myself. I’m not doing it to try and make my platform greater. That is a byproduct of plenty of millions of people on NFL Sundays. I’m trying to serve the viewer as I want to be served.”
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