New Thursday Night Football intro will star Jay Z and Rihanna (plus Don Cheadle)
By Dan Zinski
Thursday Night Football is going to CBS this year, and the telecast is getting a new intro featuring network-worthy entertainment heavy hitters.
More from NFL
- NFL rumors: Dalvin Cook suitor maintaining very ‘real’ interest
- Packers training camp news: Jordan Love struggles, Bakhtiari schedule, position switch
- 3 Cowboys who won’t be on the roster after training camp
- Packers: Aaron Rodgers reached out to Jordan Love this offseason
- Damar Hamlin is a ‘full go’ at Bills training camp
Gone are the NFL Network-only days of Cee Lo Greene and whoever that leggy woman was doing the intros last year. In 2014, each Thursday Night Football game will kick off with a performance by superstars Jay Z and Rihanna.
And Don Cheadle will chip in with a customized preview.
CBS said in a statement (via Fox Sports):
"“This open combines one of music’s biggest stars with one of the most dynamic actors in Hollywood,” said CBS Sports creative director Pete Radovich, who directed and produced the theme, via the NFL. “The energy that both talents provide gives the opening to every Thursday night the big-game, primetime feel it deserves. It is a dream scenario for any director.”"
I’ll be curious to see what the new TNF intro looks like. The old ones with Cee Lo and Prianka Chopra (just remembered her name) were horrible and the songs were just dreadful. Remember that atrocious cover of Blitzkrieg Bop? My God.
You have to believe with CBS, Rihanna and Jay Z on board, this will be a much-improved intro, something that will get you pumped for the game without turning your brain into mush.
Of course nothing will ever top the greatest football telecast intro of all-time: the old school Monday Night Football intro. The colors, man! The colors!