Michele Tafoya’s Conservative Politics May Be Why She’s Been Missing From Sidelines, Bill Simmons Says

Michele Tafoya has been noticeably missing from the sidelines on Sunday Night Football for the past three weeks. NBC has explained that they are giving their reporters “bye weeks,” but Bill Simmons doesn’t buy it.

On his podcast, The Bill Simmons Podcast, he theorized that her absence has more to do with her controversial guest-hosting gig on The View, in the conservative seat. She defended those who prefer to test instead of getting the COVID-19 vaccination, pushed back against critical race theory and contended that Colin Kaepernick was not in the NFL because he wasn’t a good enough player – instead of being due to kneeling and his social activism.

“It would be one thing if the show was on 52 weeks a year,” Simmons said. “But it’s only on 17 weeks a year. Do you need three weeks off during a 17-week season?”

Tafoya did cover games through Thanksgiving after her time at The View. Recognizable Sunday Night Football faces Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth have also had some time off. Michaels has been absent for two weeks while Collinsworth has had one week off. Some theorize that Tafoya’s time covering the Tokyo Olympics this past summer, and losing time off because of that, may have been the reason for her extended hiatus.

Kathryn Tappen has been covering for Tafoya for the past few weeks.

“If I’m Michele Tafoya, aren’t you protecting your seat?” Simmons said. “I don’t want anybody guest-sideline reporting for me. What if they’re better than me?”

Regardless of the theories, NBC has announced that Tafoya is set to return to the broadcast to cover the Buccaneers–Saints game this Sunday night.