One of the unquestionable breakout stars of the 2020 presidential election coverage is headed to Sunday Night Football.
NBC Sports announced Thursday that Steve Kornacki, the NBC News election correspondent who gained fame for his map wizardry, will join Football Night in America on Sunday to break down a new horse race, the NFL playoff picture.
The show will air ahead of Sunday’s game between the Denver Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs, with Kornacki appearing alongside the likes of Mike Tirico, Tony Dungy and Chris Simms. Kornacki will also have a presence during the halftime show.
From NBC:
[quote] “I’ve been a fan of the game since I was kid and SNF has been must-see TV for me since it started back in ’06,” said Kornacki. “Truly a thrill to get this chance, especially as the season reaches its most exciting point. I spent the last year using the Big Board to map out all of the various roads to 270 and I can’t wait to put it to use breaking down all of the paths to the playoffs.”
Hopefully, it takes a little less time to tabulate the points in the afternoon slate of games.
Wielding an oversized touch screen, a knack for math and a personable manner, Kornacki’s segments during NBC’s coverage were a boon for a network. Frequently eschewing sleep to stay on set, Kornacki deftly translated the intricacies of subjects like the demographic breakdown of Atlanta or Pennsylvania vote tabulations into understandable terms for an anxious audience.
The coverage also built up a significant following for the man himself, resulting in a massive boost in khaki sales, a spot in People’s “Sexiest Men Alive” issue and appearances on all sorts of NBC platforms.
It was only natural that Kornacki, a self-described football fan, would eventually make his way to the world of sports. Look for him to be particular interested in the outlook of the 5-6 New England Patriots, of which he is a fan.