Connor Rogers has found his way back to where it all started.
The NBC Sports NFL Draft analyst and PFF’s NFL Stock Exchange co-host has been tapped as the new midway co-host for Chris Simms Unbuttoned, replacing the outgoing Ahmed Fareed, who is expanding his NBC duties.
The move marks a full-circle moment in what’s been a remarkable rise through the sports media. Rogers and Simms recorded their first episode together on Monday, Aug. 25, officially launching what promises to be a compelling new chapter for the popular podcast.
It’s a homecoming of sorts for Rogers, who first cut his teeth in the industry working alongside Simms at Bleacher Report. Their relationship dates back to Rogers’ early days as a research assistant, grinding through six-hour round-trip commutes from upstate New York to be part of the B/R ecosystem that included media stars like Simms, Adam Lefkoe, and Matt Miller.
“Getting to not only stay in touch with Chris, but do more content with Chris, is an unbelievable blessing because we’ve worked together for so long,” Rogers told Awful Announcing last year about his occasional appearances on Unbuttoned. “I’ve learned so much from him for so long.”
Now that the occasional guest spot has evolved into something much more substantial. Rogers will handle the bulk of the weekly NFL discussions with Simms moving forward, although his commitments to SNY’s Jets pre- and postgame shows will keep him from the Sunday recap episodes, a scheduling conflict that NBC has worked to resolve by having Devin McCourty make those appearances.
The timing couldn’t be better for Rogers, who has established himself as one of the most versatile voices in sports media. Beyond his draft expertise at NBC and co-hosting duties on the NFL Stock Exchange, he’s carved out a unique niche covering both the New York Mets and Jets for SNY. It’s that authentic fan perspective, mixed with legitimate scouting acumen, that made him an obvious choice for Simms.
The move also represents another smart bet by NBC on Rogers’ rising star power. The network has already entrusted him with Combine interviews, Super Bowl coverage, and Fantasy Football Happy Hour duties alongside Matthew Berry, Jay Croucher, and Lawrence Jackson, Jr. Adding Unbuttoned co-hosting responsibilities to his portfolio only reinforces how valuable Rogers has become to their football coverage.
And now, alongside Simms on Unbuttoned, Rogers gets to do what he’s always done best, which is talk football with someone who shares his obsession with the game, just with a much bigger platform and audience than those early Bleacher Report days.
About Sam Neumann
Since the beginning of 2023, Sam has been a staff writer for Awful Announcing and The Comeback. A 2021 graduate of Temple University, Sam is a Charlotte native, who currently calls Greenville, South Carolina his home. He also has a love/hate relationship with the New York Mets and Jets.