NBC has hired Fox analyst Cris Collinsworth for its National Football League studio show next year.

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Collinsworth spent most of the 1990s as a game and studio analyst for NBC before leaving for Fox.

He returns for NBC's "Sunday Night Football" when the network regains part of the NFL package in 2006, Zap2it.com reported Wednesday.

"I've made no secret of my intention in getting Cris back," NBC Sports Chairman Dick Ebersol told reporters in Los Angeles Wednesday. "I'm absolutely thrilled he's come home."

ABC's John Madden will be moving over to the NBC team as well and Ebersol said he's hunting for his play-by-play man -- but told reporters he still wants Al Michaels, Madden's current "Monday Night Football" partner.

Collinsworth said he is happy being part of the studio team.