FOX Sports host Curt Menefee isn’t entertaining the idea of Terry Bradshaw stepping away from FOX NFL Sunday. In fact, he believes viewers shouldn’t expect to see the longtime analyst exit the program unless it’s under the most extreme circumstances.
In a recent interview with The Daily Mail, Menefee said Bradshaw’s role is too significant — and his connection to the show too deep — for any realistic discussion about retirement.
“It’s never gonna happen! They’re going to be carrying him out in a hearse — he is not leaving the show,” Menefee said. “Nor should he! It was built around him. He was the first guy they hired… He was the first guy on air for this network. I don’t think he’s ever, ever going to leave. And nor should he. He is the heart and soul of everything we do at FOX Sports.”
Bradshaw, 77, has been part of the Fox NFL franchise since its inception in 1994. The Hall of Fame quarterback and four-time Super Bowl champion has remained one of the network’s most recognizable figures, even as his on-air slip-ups and viral moments continue to draw social media attention.
Menefee, who has hosted the pregame show since 2007, sits alongside Bradshaw, Michael Strahan, Rob Gronkowski and Howie Long. Long, like Bradshaw, has been with the program from day one. Menefee said sharing the studio with analysts he grew up watching remains one of his favorite parts of the job.
“I grew up watching Terry Bradshaw and Howie Long… for me to be beside these guys who are not only icons, but guys that I worshiped as a fan growing up has been absolutely amazing,” he said, adding that he and Strahan still feel like “the two kids” of the group. “And when I go back to year one, those guys took me and wrapped their arms around me and embraced me and made me a part of the team right away.”
Bradshaw sparked concern earlier this season when he missed the Week 11 broadcast due to a cold. He later reassured fans on social media that he was “all good,” and he returned to the show the following week.
Menefee also credited Bradshaw for playing a direct role in shaping his own career. When FOX Sports searched for a new host in 2007, Bradshaw reportedly pushed for Menefee during the audition process.
“They had the auditions, they ran through a lot of people, and Bradshaw said, ‘I want Menefee,’ and that went a long way in the decision makers’ minds,” Menefee said.
This season brought another change to the iconic pregame desk as Gronkowski replaced longtime analyst Jimmy Johnson. The former Cowboys head coach announced in March that he was retiring from the show after 31 years. Still, despite the occasional shuffle, Menefee made it clear one seat isn’t changing. As long as Bradshaw wants to talk football on Sundays, Fox will have a place for him.
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