Brown Leaving Fox’s Pregame for CBS

An announcement that broadcaster James Brown will be joining CBS as host of the “The NFL Today” is expected Monday, industry sources said Friday.

Brown has been the host of Fox’s NFL pregame show since it was launched in 1994. Before that, he spent 10 years in a variety of roles at CBS.

The move back to CBS was made possible when “NFL Today” host Greg Gumbel expressed a desire to return to play-by-play.

Of Brown’s departure, Fox Sports chairman David Hill said: “We have been very fortunate to have J.B. as part of the Fox family for the last 12 years.

“He is one of the classiest people in all of sports and we love him dearly. Ultimately, this was his decision and we wish him nothing but the very best in his new role.”

Hill did not comment on who might replace Brown on the Fox pregame show.

One factor in Brown’s decision to return to CBS was that he lives in Washington and commuting to New York is much easier than commuting to Los Angeles, a source said. “The NFL Today” set is at CBS in New York; Fox is headquartered in L.A.