The sports media world is buzzing tonight as congratulations flood in for one of football's most recognizable voices. Cris Collinsworth, the longtime analyst for NBC's "Sunday Night Football," isn't just calling the plays—he's making a game-winning business move that's set to net him a fortune.
A Blockbuster Deal
According to a major report from Arif Hasan's Wide Left Substack, Collinsworth's brainchild, Pro Football Focus, is on the verge of being acquired. The buyer is Teamworks, a software and analytics firm, and the price tag is a jaw-dropping $130 million to $140 million. For Collinsworth, who founded and owns the company, this represents a monumental financial touchdown. PFF has become a staple for serious football fans, its player grades and advanced metrics featured weekly during the biggest NFL broadcasts.
Questions Cloud the End Zone Celebration
While the financial win is clear, the future playbook for PFF is less certain. The report indicates Teamworks operates primarily in software analytics and lacks a clear media or content strategy. Hasan notes there's "no clear understanding of what may happen to the fantasy/gambling sides of PFF," leaving fans and industry watchers curious about the iconic brand's next chapter.
The internal handling of the news has also raised eyebrows. Reportedly, PFF's management informed its business-to-business staff about the impending deal weeks ago, but those on the content and consumer side were left in the dark, learning the news indirectly. This has created an air of uncertainty around the very analysts and writers who built PFF's public reputation.
The Sports World Reacts
Despite the unanswered questions, the immediate reaction from the sports community has been one of resounding applause for Collinsworth. Social media and sports forums are lit up with praise for the savvy businessman behind the microphone.
"So much respect for what @PFF built," wrote one fan, highlighting the company's pioneering work in player-tracking data. "Started charting every player on every play... Now that level of charting is table stakes for anyone trying to do anything predictive in NFL."
Other reactions ranged from simple astonishment—"Whoa!" and "This is huge!"—to more analytical takes. One observer noted, "I wrote a few years back that PFF could either be Apple or IBM... If Arif’s reporting is accurate... they went the IBM route," suggesting a lucrative sale over continued independent growth.
Fans also pointed out Teamworks' growing sports tech empire, which includes acquisitions like Sportlogiq for NHL tracking and Opteamal for European soccer, making PFF a significant piece in a larger data puzzle.
A Legacy Beyond the Broadcast Booth
This deal solidifies Cris Collinsworth's legacy as more than just a Hall of Fame wide receiver and a smooth-talking broadcaster. He is a visionary entrepreneur who identified a hunger for deep football analytics and built a company that fundamentally changed how the game is discussed and analyzed. The sale of PFF marks the culmination of that journey, a nine-figure validation of his off-field instincts.
As the congratulations continue to pour in, the focus now shifts to the future. What will Teamworks do with one of sports media's most influential brands? For tonight, however, the story belongs to Cris Collinsworth and a business play that deserves a perfect grade.
