Behind The Mic: ESPN Ups On-Stage Talent Across College and Professional Teams

Behind the Mic provides a roundup of recent news regarding on-air talent, including new deals, departures, and assignments compiled from press releases and reports around the industry. In this weeks edition, Mina Times to re-sign with ESPN as NFL analyst; Adam Ottavino to join ESPN’s Baseball Tonight; and more.

ESPN Re-Signs NFL Analyst and Podcast Host Mina Kimes to a Multi-Year Deal, Extending the Multiplatform Contributor’s Tenure with the Company Beyond 10 Years

ESPN has re-signed Mina Kimes to a multi-year agreement, as the multi-faceted contributor continues her NFL analyst role on NFL Live, hosting “The Mina Kimes Show featuring Lenny,” and appearing regularly on Around the Horn, First Take, SportsCenter and more. During the duration of the new agreement, Kimes will surpass 10 years with the company, having joined in 2014.

Kimes, New Cast Drive NFL Live to Multi-Year Success
During Kimes’ ESPN tenure, the Yale graduate’s profile has grown steadily across the company’s multimedia platforms, spanning television, digital, print and podcasting. Since 2020, Kimes has been a staple of the Sports Emmy-nominated NFL Live, with fellow analysts Ryan Clark, Dan Orlovsky, Marcus Spears, host Laura Rutledge and senior NFL insider Adam Schefter providing the news. Analyst Andrew Hawkins has also regularly joined the show this season.

Following a full revamp, which included the new cast, NFL Live has consistently achieved viewership successes, delivered viral moments and received critical acclaim from athletes, fans and media alike. In 2023, NFL Live is delivering its most-watched season since 2016.

Kimes Expands Podcast Presence
Kimes’ “The Mina Kimes Show featuring Lenny,” one of ESPN’s most popular podcasts and produced by Omaha Productions, expanded this season with the launch of a new YouTube channel. The year-round program produces multiple episodes each week, with a heavy focus on the NFL.

Recognized for Sports Writing
Before transitioning mainly to television and audio, Kimes began her ESPN career as a writer, with ESPN The Magazine and the ESPN Digital properties. Her most notable written profiles included Aaron Rodgers, Jalen Ramsey, and Darrelle Revis. She has twice been recognized as a finalist for the Dan Jenkins Medal for Excellence in Sports Writing.

Justin Walters Joins ESPN as ACC Network Host

Justin Walters is joining ESPN as a host for ACC Network, the 24/7 platform dedicated to Atlantic Coast Conference sports. He previously worked as a sports anchor and reporter for PIX11 News in New York in addition to serving as a college football and basketball reporter the past three years for CBS Sports.

Walters will make his ACC Network debut on Wednesday, Dec. 6, when he anchors halftime coverage of ACCN’s men’s basketball doubleheader – Rutgers at Wake Forest (6 p.m.) and South Carolina at Clemson (8 p.m.) – and hosts ACCN’s signature basketball show Nothing But Net (10 p.m.).

“We’re excited to add Justin to our ACC Network team. He is both talented and versatile, an ideal combination for this role, which will include hosting shows in studio and on the road, as well as reporting and conducting interviews in the field,” says Michael Shiffman, ESPN senior vice president, production.

Walters adds: “Joining ESPN is truly a dream come true. Growing up watching some of the greatest and recreating a broadcast as a kid…this is a full circle moment. I’m grateful to ESPN and ACCN for this opportunity and thrilled to be a part of the team. I’m ready to put in the work!”

A New York native, Walters has worked for PIX11 since 2019. During his four years with the New York City station, he covered some of the biggest sports stories and provided special coverage for the New York Mets and Yankees spring training in Florida, Super Bowl LVI and LVII, the 2022 NFL Draft, the 2019 NBA Draft, and more. A sports anchor and reporter, Walters contributed to both the PIX11 Morning and Evening News.

Walters also covered college football and college basketball games as a sideline reporter for CBS Sports since October 2019. Before finishing up at CBS, he earned his first career NFL assignment, covering the sidelines for the Ravens-Cardinals game.

Prior to PIX11, Walters was the sports director and anchor for WRNN-TV/Fios1 News in the greater New York City area, where he covered both high school and professional teams throughout the tri-state area. His most memorable assignments included the Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Conor McGregor fight in Las Vegas and Mariano Rivera’s unanimous Hall of Fame induction in Cooperstown, N.Y. He started his career in 2013 with WBBJ-TV in Jackson, Tennessee.

Born in Brooklyn and raised in Mount Vernon, N.Y., Walters graduated from La Salle University with a Bachelor of Arts in broadcast journalism. He is an active member of The National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) and Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.

Adam Ottavino to Join ESPN’s Baseball Tonight as Guest Analyst for Baseball Winter Meetings Shows

Adam Ottavino, a veteran Major League Baseball pitcher who is currently a free agent, will join ESPN’s Baseball Tonight as a guest analyst for its shows during the 2023 Baseball Winter Meetings. Ottavino most recently pitched for the New York Mets in 2023. Prior, he pitched for the Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, Colorado Rockies and St. Louis Cardinals.

Baseball Tonight will air nightly from December 4 through December 6 on ESPN2. The shows will emanate from ESPN’s Bristol, Conn. studios and feature interviews and updates from reporters on site in Nashville, Tenn. Phil Murphy will host Baseball Tonight with analyst Doug Glanville and analyst and National Baseball Hall of Fame sportswriter Tim Kurkjian.

ESPN MLB reporters, including Alden Gonzalez, Jeff Passan and Jesse Rogers will be covering the Baseball Winter Meetings on site for ESPN.com, SportsCenter, Baseball Tonight and more.

The Baseball Tonight with Buster Olney podcast will also document and discuss the Baseball Winter Meetings. The podcast is available on all platforms.

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