“I wouldn’t want that schedule,” added Rogers, who has co-hosted the show 20 times to date.

Matt Rogers reacts to not landing job of Jenna Bush Hager’s permanent *Today *cohost

"I wouldn't want that schedule," added Rogers, who has co-hosted the show 20 times to date.

By Shania Russell

Shania Russell

Shania Russell is a news writer at *, *with five years of experience. Her work has previously appeared in SlashFilm and Paste Magazine.

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January 7, 2026 2:37 p.m. ET

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Jenna Bush Hager and Matt Rogers on 'Today'. Credit:

Matt Rogers isn't too torn up about missing the chance to become the permanent co-host of *Today*'s fourth hour.

And no, it has nothing to do with his continued friendship with Jenna Bush Hager.

"I am obsessed with her. I love her. I'm having the best time," Rogers recently told his *Las Culturistas *cohost Bowen Yang of his recent *Today* guest stint. Last year, following Hoda Kotb's January 2025 departure, the fourth hour of the morning show was retitled *Today With Jenna & Friends*, and saw Hager joined by a rotating cast of A-listers and colleagues to help her anchor the program. Guest hosts included the likes of Andy Cohen, Scarlett Johansson, Keke Palmer, Amy Poehler, Rogers, and more.

After hosting alongside Hager several times, Rogers was the final "friend" to join her on the show before longtime *Today* anchor Sheinelle Jones took her place as the new permanent host of the fourth hour. For his part, Rogers said he was honored to be the final temporary co-host.

"I'm the last friend and so I made a whole joke about how that meant I was second place," he explained. "But by the way, I do wanna say, I knew the entire time I wasn't getting that job. I did not want that job."

Jenna Bush Hager and Matt Rogers on 'Today'.

Then, alluding to Yang's recent departure from *Saturday Night Live* after seven years, Rogers quipped, "Just to talk about employment status, *my* employment status at NBC for one second, and then we'll get to him."

He explained that after news dropped that Jones won the coveted *Today* spot, plenty of people reached out to check in on him. "Everyone was like, 'Aw, were you disappointed?'" Rogers recalled. "I was like, 'A, no. I wouldn't want that schedule. B, Sheinelle Jones should have the job.'"

He added that while he knew he wouldn't land the permanent gig, he enjoyed that "everyone thought I was a contender," adding, "I liked being in that conversation, it was fun."

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As of his most recent guest stint on Monday's broadcast of *Today*, Rogers said that he has now co-hosted the show "20 times."

"Wow," Yang replied. "They gotta get you a smoking jacket at this point."

Rogers agreed, joking, "I guess I would have four *SNL* jackets at this point."

At the mention of the sketch show that he departed on Dec. 20, Yang joked, "What is that?"

As he teased on the podcast, Rogers hilariously speculated on the show's Jan. 5 episode that since he was chosen as the final friend to join Hager, he must've been a shoe-in to become the show's permanent host.

Per *Hello Magazine*, he joked, "I am so honored to be the final friend, I have to say. And I know what it means."

Confused, Hager asked, "What does it mean?" to which Rogers swiftly replied: "Second place"

Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers visit 'Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen'.

Charles Sykes/Bravo via Getty

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As Hager burst into laughter, Rogers continued, "I just want to gratefully accept this as my second place. Sheinelle, you deserve it mama. Sorry everyone else. Don't be wondering at home who was second place. It's me baby and you know. And you [Jenna] know it's true. She's laughing cause she knows."

Hager finally caught her breath to respond, admitting, "I'm dying cause I didn't know this was coming." **

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