FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sunday, September 9th, 2018

TONIGHT’S “FOOTBALL NIGHT IN AMERICA” INCLUDES NEW SHOW OPEN AND PETER KING’S INTERVIEWS WITH AARON RODGERS AND BART STARR

Football Night in America Begins at 7 p.m. ET on NBC

All-New FNIA Show Open for 2018

Features Include Peter King’s Interviews with Aaron Rodgers and Bart Starr; “Faces” of the Diehard Bears and Packers Fans

Sunday Night Football Features New, Earlier 8:20 p.m. ET Kickoff Time

STAMFORD, Conn. – September 9, 2018 – Tonight’s Week 1 episode of Football Night in America on NBC, which begins at 7 p.m. ET, is highlighted by a brand new show open, a feature on diehard Bears and Packers fans, NFL Insider Peter King’s interviews with Green Bay Packers QB Aaron Rodgers and Pro Football Hall of Famer Bart Starr as well as highlights, analysis and news from around the league. Football Night in America leads into Bears-Packers on Sunday Night Football, which begins at a new, earlier 8:20 p.m. ET kickoff time.

Mike Tirico will host Football Night in America alongside Hall of Fame coach Tony Dungy, two-time Super Bowl winner Rodney Harrison, and NFL insider Mike Florio from NBC Sports’ International Broadcast Center in Stamford, Conn. Liam McHugh will co-host Football Night in America on-site from Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis.

Tonight’s edition of Football Night in America will begin with an all-new show open for the 2018 season. Additionally, the program will include a feature on the faces of the Bears and Packers, including a Bears fan with more than 200 Bears-dedicated tattoos, and a Packers’ fan who took his wife’s last name – Packer.

Below are excerpts from King’s interviews with Rodgers and Starr. If used, please note the mandatory credit: “In an exclusive interview airing on Football Night in America.”

Click here to watch a preview of King’s interview with Rodgers and Starr.

Rodgers on embracing the Packers’ history: “From the first day I got here and took the tour, you looked around the stadium – Favre’s name wasn’t there yet – you just understood the history. You start looking at Lambeau, Lombardi, Willie Davis, Ray Nitschke, Bart Starr – I’m a huge fan of the game. I grew up watching old VHS tapes of Super Bowl highlights, and who was in them? The Green Bay Packers.”

Rodgers on how his friendship with Starr formed: “It was a sincere appreciation for him reaching out in 2008. When the changeover happened with Brett (Favre), he and his wife Cherry started writing me letters.”

King: “What were his letters saying?”

Rodgers: “They were just super supportive and encouraging. It meant the world to me because I knew I had the support of one of the greatest players of all-time, and definitely one of the greatest Packers of all-time.”

Starr reading from his letter to Rodgers: “You are a strong leader. Cherry and I are admiring you because you are one of the finest men we have ever met.”

Rodgers on the impact of being the Packers’ QB: “This is one of the top positions in all of sports. We feel like we are ‘America’s Team.’ Other teams have taken that mantra from time to time, but we’re just a blue-collar city with a team that’s been around for a 100 years and been a part of some incredible NFL history. To me, there’s no better job in sports.”

–FOOTBALL NIGHT IN AMERICA–