Tag: ESPN

Jan 17, 2022; Inglewood, California, USA; Randy Moss on the ESPN Monday Night Countdown set before a NFC Wild Card playoff football game between the Los Angeles Rams and the Arizona Cardinals at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

ESPN’s Randy Moss taking leave for health reasons

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Hall of Fame wide receiver Randy Moss is taking an extended leave of absence from his role as an ESPN NFL analyst to focus on a “personal health challenge,” the network said Friday.

Moss, 47, raised concerns on Sunday in an Instagram post in which he asked fans to pray for him and his family.

Without specifying a particular illness, Moss urged men to get bloodwork and checkups. Viewers had noticed that the whites of his eyes were visibly yellow, a potential sign of jaundice.

“I just ask for all the prayer warriors to put their blessing hands on me and my family through these hard times. People were talking about my eyes last week,” Moss said. “I’m battling something, man, and it’s something internal. Your boy is going to get through it. I got a great team of doctors and got a great family around me.”

Moss has been part of ESPN’s “Sunday NFL Countdown” crew since 2016.

“For nearly a decade, Randy has been an invaluable member of the team, consistently elevating ‘Countdown’ with his insight and passion,” the network said in a statement. “He has ESPN’s full support, and we look forward to welcoming him back when he is ready.”

Moss was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2018 with 982 receptions for 15,292 yards and 156 touchdowns in 218 games with the Minnesota Vikings (1998-2004, 2010), Oakland Raiders (2005-06), New England Patriots (2007-10), Tennessee Titans (2010) and San Francisco 49ers (2012).

The four-time All-Pro and six-time Pro Bowl selection led the NFL in receiving touchdowns five times, including a single-season record 23 scores with the Patriots in 2007.

–Field Level Media

Nov 18, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; ESPN personality and former Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce on set before the game between the Dallas Cowboys and Houston Texans at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

Jason Kelce gets ESPN late-night show

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Move over Jimmy Kimmel. Jason Kelce is taking to late-night TV starting in January, but viewers will need to stay up past midnight to see his new show.

ESPN plans to tape the live-audience studio show, “They Call It Late Night with Jason Kelce,” on Fridays starting Jan. 3 through the end of the NFL playoffs — a five-week stretch that would serve as a test run for the retired All-Pro center and big brother to Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce.

The first four episodes will air at 1 a.m. ET starting Jan. 4 and re-air on ESPN2 and Kelce’s YouTube channels.

“I loved late-night shows, I’ve always loved them. I remember sleepovers watching Conan O’Brien with my friends. We’re going to have a bunch of guys up there — legends of the game, friends that I played with, coaches, celebrities,” Jason Kelce said Thursday night on an appearance with Kimmel.

Jason Kelce, 37, joined “Monday Night Countdown” on ESPN at the start of this season.

The show will be recorded in Philadelphia at Union Transfer with live music.

NFL Films’ first full-length film, “They Call It Pro Football,” had deep Philly roots. Philadelphia TV personality John Facenda became the voice of NFL Films and narrated that film, from which the title of Jason Kelce’s new show was created.

The Kelce brothers share a popular podcast and YouTube channels. Jason Kelce is not playing in the NFL for the first time since being drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the sixth round of the 2011 draft. The six-time All-Pro started all 193 games he played in the NFL.

–Field Level Media

May 17, 2022; Miami, Florida, USA; ESPN tv host Mike Greenberg during pregame before game one with the Miami Heat against the Boston Celtics of the 2022 eastern conference finals at FTX Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

Report: Mike Greenberg to host ‘Sunday NFL Countdown’

Posted on | by Field Level Media

ESPN will name network veteran Mike Greenberg as the host of “Sunday NFL Countdown,” The Athletic reported Tuesday.

He will replace Samantha Ponder, who was fired last week with one year and more than $1 million remaining on her three-year deal in what The Athletic called a cost-cutting move.

Greenberg, 57, joined ESPN in September 1996 as an ESPNEWS anchor, and he also anchored SportsCenter. He is best known as one half of “Mike & Mike,” the morning radio show that was simulcast on television and premiered on Jan. 3, 2000.

He and former NFL player Mike Golic were a team until the show ended Nov. 17, 2017. Both were inducted into the National Association of Broadcasters’ Broadcasting Hall of Fame in 2016 and the National Radio Hall of Fame in 2018.

The duo formerly hosted the NFL draft on ESPN Radio, and Greenberg later took over as anchor of the draft on television.

Greenberg has been seen on several ESPN shows through the years. He currently hosts the network’s morning show, “Get Up,” as well as “Greeny” on ESPN Radio. He also served as host of “NBA Countdown,” the network’s NBA pregame show.

On “Sunday NFL Countdown,” he is expected to be joined by returnees Tedy Bruschi, Randy Moss, Rex Ryan and Alex Smith, along with NFL insider Adam Schefter.

By putting Greenberg in place now, ESPN and ABC can begin preparations for 2027, when the sister networks will air the Super Bowl for the first time.

–Field Level Media

The Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton features a museum, and is also surrounded by the Hall of Fame Village development and entertainment campus, which features restaurants, a brewery, football stadium, sports dome, practice fields and a water park that is under construction.

Hall of Fame Game returns to ABC

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The 2024 Hall of Fame Game will be broadcast on Aug. 1 by ABC and ESPN.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame said Thursday this will be the first time ESPN has aired the game. It’s sister network, ABC, had rights to the Hall of Fame Game from 1971-2005.

This year’s preseason game in Canton, Ohio, will feature the Chicago Bears and Houston Texans.

ESPN’s “Monday Night Football” crew of Joe Buck, Troy Aikman and Lisa Salters will call the game.

Aikman, the quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys from 1989-2000, was enshrined in the Hall of Fame in 2006.

–Field Level Media

Nov 26, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce (62) walks off the field after overtime win against the Buffalo Bills at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

Jason Kelce joins ESPN’s ‘Monday Night Countdown’ crew

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Former Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce made his latest roster move official, joining the ESPN family on Tuesday.

Kelce, who retired in March after 13 NFL seasons, will be part of the “Monday Night Countdown” crew.

“Turns out, it was a short retirement! I’m excited to join ESPN, and particularly the Monday Night Countdown team,” said Kelce, 36. “ESPN was a consistent presence in our household growing up and the network helped shape who I am and my love of all sports. To now appear on that same screen is a full circle moment. And, I mean it’s freaking Monday Night Football! and I’m ready for some football.”

Kelce joins Scott Van Pelt, Ryan Clark, Marcus Spears, Adam Schefter and Michelle Beisner-Buck on the team.

“Jason is a highly respected, Super Bowl Champion with a strong connection to fans,” ESPN president of content Burke Magnus said. “Walking off the field and immediately to ESPN, viewers will benefit from his perspective which has been shaped through his years as an established locker room leader and a future Hall of Fame center. Jason’s addition to Monday Night Countdown will greatly strengthen our NFL coverage.”

Kelce’s services were also reportedly sought by CBS, NBC and Amazon.

Drafted in the sixth round (191st overall) in 2011, Kelce became a Super Bowl LII champion and one of the most durable, decorated and respected centers in NFL history — and one of the league’s most passionate players.

The six-time All-Pro and seven-time Pro Bowl selection started 205 games for the Eagles, including the postseason.

Kelce is the older brother of Kansas City Chiefs star tight end Travis Kelce. The siblings have a popular podcast called “New Heights.”

–Field Level Media

HYANNIS 01/12/24 A pop-up tribute to longtime Patriots coach Bill Belichick along Barnstable Rd in Hyannis on Friday morning after it was announced Jerod Mayo will be the team's new head coach. Steve Heaslip/Cape Cod Times

Bill Belichick gets weekly spot on ESPN’s ‘ManningCast’

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Bill Belichick isn’t coaching an NFL franchise this season, but he’ll still be on television screens often during the 2024 NFL season.

Peyton Manning, who with his brother, Eli, hosts the “ManningCast” on ESPN — officially called “Monday Night Football with Peyton and Eli” — said the coach will appear on every episode during the upcoming season.

“ManningCast” airs as an alternative viewing format for the majority of, but not all, “Monday Night Football” games.

Peyton Manning told “The Pat McAfee Show” on ESPN on Friday that Belichick will be on the show every week, likely early in the game, to share his expertise.

“That’s the idea, that Bill is going to be a permanent guest on every ‘ManningCast’ show early in the game, probably the first quarter,” Manning explained, “to kind of take people behind the ropes as to what this defense has to do or what the quarterback’s challenges are.”

The Manning brothers have a long history with Bill Belichick, who won six Super Bowl games with the New England Patriots. He and the team, which he started coaching in 2000, mutually split after a 4-13 season in 2023.

Peyton and Tom Brady were the preeminent quarterbacks of their era, engaging in a head-to-head rivalry that saw Brady’s Patriots beat Peyton’s Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos 11 times in 17 attempts.

Eli’s New York Giants beat the Patriots twice in the Super Bowl, to conclude the 2007 and 2011 seasons.

Belichick has been coveted for television jobs, and he agreed to join Peyton Manning’s Omaha Productions.

“It was an easy pitch to Bill. I said, ‘Bill, we want you to come on. Look, we’d love to go behind the ropes on the defensive side as to kind of what the Eagles are going to have to do to stop Patrick Mahomes, right?’And if you ever run out of things to say, just make fun of Eli, right? That’s always sort of a time-filler,’” Peyton said.

“And Bill doesn’t like Eli. We all know that — two Super Bowls — so it’s just a match made in heaven.”

–Field Level Media

Mar 30, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Former Philadelphia Eagle Jason Kelce reacts before the game between the Philadelphia Phillies and Atlanta Braves at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-USA TODAY Sports

Jason Kelce joining ESPN’s ‘MNF’ pregame show

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Recently retired Jason Kelce is joining ESPN this fall to be part of its “Monday Night Countdown” pregame show, The Athletic reported Monday.

Kelce announced his retirement early last month after 13 seasons as the center for the Philadelphia Eagles.

Kelce was sought after by CBS, NBC and Amazon, per the report. CBS was interested in Kelce for its “NFL Today” show, per the report.

Drafted in the sixth round (191st overall) in 2011, Kelce became a Super Bowl LII champion and one of the most durable, decorated and respected centers in NFL history — and one of the league’s most passionate players.

The six-time All-Pro and seven-time Pro Bowl selection started 205 games for the Eagles, including the postseason.

Kelce, 36, is the older brother of Kansas City Chiefs star tight end Travis Kelce. The siblings have a popular podcast called “New Heights.”

–Field Level Media

Jan 8, 2024; Houston, TX, USA; The 2024 CFP logo on the field before the 2024 College Football Playoff national championship game between the Michigan Wolverines and the Washington Huskies at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

ESPN to keep CFP broadcast rights through ’31

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The College Football Playoff is officially staying with ESPN and its family of networks.

ESPN announced a six-year, $7.8 billion deal to retain the media rights to the CFP through the 2031 season, concluding with the national title game in January 2032.

The deal was first reported in February, but it needed ratification after the playoff finalized its new format. The CFP will expand from four teams to 12 starting next season.

The CFP is extending its current deal with ESPN for two years (2024 and 2025) and giving ESPN the four new first-round games on top of the quarterfinals, semifinals and national championship game.

Beginning in 2026, ESPN’s new deal kicks in, and it encompasses all rounds of the playoff, which may expand to 14 teams by that time.

Further, the national championship game will be broadcast on ABC beginning in January 2027 (for the 2026 season), in addition to ESPN’s usual mega-cast of the game.

“ESPN has worked very closely with the College Football Playoff over the past decade to build one of the most prominent events in American sports,” ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro said in a statement.

“We look forward to enhancing our valued relationship over the next two years, and then continuing it for six more as we embark on this new, expanded playoff era. This agreement further solidifies ESPN as the home of college football, as well as the destination for the vast majority of major college championships for the next eight years.”

According to The Athletic last month, ESPN will have the right to “sublicense” CFP games over the course of the contract to other media organizations or streamers.

–Field Level Media

Jan 8, 2024; Houston, TX, USA; A general view as the Washington Huskies take the field before to the 2024 College Football Playoff national championship game at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: James Lang-USA TODAY Sports

Report: Conferences, CFP agree on financial terms for expanded playoffs

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Officials with the College Football Playoff, the nine FBS conferences and independent Notre Dame have agreed to the next playoff contract, which will take effect in 2026, ESPN reported Friday.

Under terms of the agreement, the CFP will include at least 12 teams starting in 2026 and moving forward, though expansion to 14 teams remains on the table and is considered likely to happen sooner rather than later.

Four teams have been part of the CFP since its inception for the 2014 season.

“Anything else regarding format is to be determined,” CFP executive director Bill Hancock said Friday, per ESPN. “This is a very important next step for CFP, of course, and we do still have details to be finalized regarding the format, but I want to stress that the really good news is that football fans will continue to see the best teams in the country competing for the national championship on the playing field. This arrangement will also ensure the expanded access will continue to be in place. We firmly believe this, about the importance of a competitive opportunity for more programs and more players and more fans. We’re pleased to be in the position we’re in, while we know there’s still more work to be done.”

Per ESPN, the Big Ten and Southeastern Conference will take the lead in establishing the format of future playoffs beyond guaranteed berths for conference champions of the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12 and SEC, as well as the highest-ranked team from Group of Five champions. Notre Dame was assured it will have “protections” as the format evolves, ESPN reported.

The conferences and Notre Dame also agreed on annual compensation for each conference. Big Ten and SEC schools each will receive more than $21 million, the ACC schools will get upward of $13 million, and Notre Dame and Big 12 members will be paid more than $12 million.

Group of Five schools will receive $1.8 million — a raise of $300,000 — and Washington State and Oregon State will earn $360,000. The two Pacific Northwest schools find themselves as the remaining two members of the Pac-12, and, at least for now, are independents.

These new payouts coincide with an upcoming contract with ESPN, in which the network is expected to spend an average of about $1.3 billion on the CFP in each of the next six seasons.

That’s about three times the amount per season that ESPN has paid for the four-team playoff, Yahoo Sports said.

–Field Level Media

The ESPN logo is seen on an electronic display in Times Square in New York on Aug. 23, 2017.

Veteran NFL reporter Chris Mortensen dies at 72

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Chris Mortensen, an award-winning NFL reporter who spent the bulk of his decorated career with ESPN, died on Sunday, the network announced. He was 72.

Mortensen, affectionately known by his colleagues as “Mort,” announced last September that he had stepped away from ESPN following that April’s NFL draft to “focus on (his) health, family and faith.”

“Mort was widely respected as an industry pioneer and universally beloved as a supportive, hard-working teammate,” ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro said in a statement. “He covered the NFL with extraordinary skill and passion, and was at the top of his field for decades. He will truly be missed by colleagues and fans, and our hearts and thoughts are with his loved ones.”

Mortensen took a leave of absence from his job in 2016 to undergo treatment for Stage 4 throat cancer. That same year, he broke the news that Peyton Manning would retire.

Before joining ESPN in 1991, Mortensen worked for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and the short-lived sports publication The National.

He received a George Polk Award in 1987 and was given the Dick McCann Award from the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2016.

“An absolutely devastating day,” ESPN reporter Adam Schefter wrote Sunday on social media. “Mort was one of the greatest reporters in sports history, and an even better man. Sincerest condolences to his family, and all who knew and loved him. So many did. Mort was the very best. He will be forever missed and remembered.”

–Field Level Media