Behind The Mic: John Fanta Finalizes Move to NBC; ESPN Gears Up for Fall of Football With NFL, CFB Announce Teams
Story Highlights
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 week’s edition, John Fanta makes a move to NBC, ESPN is getting set for their respective NFL and college football seasons with talent, and more.
John Fanta Joins NBC Sports as Men’s Basketball Play-by-Play Voice on Peacock and NBC
Play-by-play commentator and reporter John Fanta has joined NBC Sports to call men’s college basketball games across Peacock and NBC. Fanta will serve as NBC Sports’ lead BIG EAST play-by-play voice and will call Big Ten and Big 12 men’s games.
“It’s an absolute thrill to join the NBC Sports family in full force and I couldn’t be more excited to jump right in this week on college football game breaks,” says Fanta. “In the world of college basketball, to play a role in the soundtrack of NBC Sports’ coverage, featuring some of the biggest games and best atmospheres across the country, is a joy for the sport that I got my start in. As a young sports fan growing up on the west side of Cleveland, I admired the many voices across NBC Sports’ coverage. To join this fantastic team of people is a blessing and I can’t wait to get started.”
Fanta will additionally contribute to NBC Sports’ college football coverage in the fall, providing game break updates throughout coverage of the Big Ten and Notre Dame on NBC and Peacock. He will also occasionally serve as a reporter on NBC Sports’ coverage of the NBA.
Last season, Fanta called numerous men’s basketball games on Peacock and served as a reporter for NBC Sports’ five BIG EAST Men’s Basketball Tournament games.
“We’re excited for John to join NBC Sports and call games across our deep portfolio of college basketball,” says Rick Cordella, President, NBC Sports. “With big-time action across the BIG EAST, Big Ten, and Big 12, I know John’s passion and enthusiasm for the game matches that of the fanbase’s and will continue to elevate our college basketball production.”
A graduate of Seton Hall University, Fanta has called men’s and women’s college basketball games for FOX Sports since 2018. He also has covered the NBA Draft among other events for NBA Broadcasting since 2023 while also doing select games for CBS Sports Network since 2022. He contributes to college basketball coverage in a number of capacities, including as a podcast host on The Field of 68 Media Network and as a host for the BIG EAST Digital Network. Fanta was honored as the Rising Star Award winner by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association in 2024 and was named on The Athletic’s “40 Under 40: Rising Stars in Men’s College Basketball” list.
ESPN’s NFL Studio Lineup Introduces Vibrant Personalities and Enhanced Onsite Programming for the 2025 NFL Season
ESPN’s NFL studio lineup returns for the 2025 season, adding new, vibrant voices to established casts that include multiple Super Bowl Champions. ESPN’s long-established pregame shows – Sunday NFL Countdown and Monday Night Countdown – are back, as is ESPN’s iconic highlights program, NFL Primetime. NFL Live is set to travel to more game sites this season, following an award-winning campaign in 2024. NFL Matchup and NFL Turning Point will return, providing a preview and review of each week. Everything kicks off with a special Prediction Bonanza on the first day of the NFL season as the road to Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara, CA begins.
Monday Night Countdown and NFL Live to Originate from Monday Night Football Location
Monday Night Countdown, presented by ESPN Bet Sportsbook, will originate from the site of Monday Night Football most weeks. The two-hour pregame show (6-8 p.m. ET) will recap Sunday’s action and set the table for the final game of the week. Ryan Clark, Jason Kelce, and Marcus Spears, along with host Scott Van Pelt, are together for a second consecutive season. Michelle Beisner-Buck’s storytelling through features and interviews remains a core part of the show. Adam Schefter will join multiple segments every week.
Monday Night Countdown will have a special 5 p.m. start time in Weeks 2, 4, 6, and 7, the four weeks when Monday Night Football airs multiple games on the same night.
New this year, NFL Live will regularly originate from the location of Monday Night Football. For the second consecutive season, it will extend to two hours on Mondays (3-5 p.m. ET). Clark, Mina Kimes, Dan Orlovsky, and Spears will join host Laura Rutledge, as well as Peter Schrager, who will be a regular on Monday’s shows this season. Schefter, a constant on the show throughout the week, will also appear. NFL Live, coming off its Sports Emmy Award win for “Outstanding Studio Show-Daily,” begins its sixth season with its current cast. From Tuesday through Friday, the show will air in its traditional timeslot, 4-5 p.m. Monday Night Football Week 1 will be in Chicago for an NFC North showdown between the Vikings and Bears. Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Lisa Salters, and Rutledge will be on the call at 8 p.m. (ESPN, ABC, ESPN Deportes), with Monday Night Football with Peyton and Eli on ESPN2.
Sunday NFL Countdown Embarks on 41st Season
Sunday NFL Countdown, presented by Snickers, returns on September 7 (10 a.m.-1 p.m.), ahead of the first full slate of NFL Week 1 games. The premier pregame show embarks on its 41st NFL season. Tedy Bruschi, Randy Moss, Rex Ryan, Alex Smith, and host Mike Greenberg all return for their second season together. Schefter, who has been an integral part of the show since joining ESPN in 2009, will be in the studio each week. Sports betting analyst Erin Dolan, who has been part of the show for the previous two seasons, will also be present. Moss returns full-time after taking a leave of absence for a health-related issue in December 2024, before returning on Super Bowl Sunday.
Content Creator Katie Feeney to Contribute in Multiple Ways on Multiple Platforms
Content creator Katie Feeney, who joined ESPN this summer, will bring her personal 14 million social media followers, in addition to ESPN’s social media followers, a lifestyle-driven approach to NFL content this season, while also continuing to be one of ESPN’s personalities featured in the enhanced ESPN App. The recent Penn State graduate will blend on-site access with fashion, and culture across multiple social media feeds, while also contributing, at times, to Sunday NFL Countdown and, occasionally, to Monday Night Countdown.
NFL Primetime with Chris Berman and Booger McFarland Returns to ESPN+
NFL Primetime presented by Dell Technologies returns, as Chris Berman continues to host the iconic highlight show every Sunday (7:30 p.m.) on ESPN+ and then on demand through Wednesday of each week. Booger McFarland joins Berman for the sixth consecutive season. The show originally launched in 1987.
Sal Paolantonio Hosts NFL Matchup for 23rd Consecutive Season
NFL Matchup, the deep-dive breakdown show, premieres every Saturday morning on ESPN2 before airing Sunday morning on ESPN, leading off the network’s Sunday programming during the NFL season. The show is available on ESPN+ beginning Saturday each week. Sal Paolantonio, Darius Butler, and Greg Cosell all return for the in-depth Xs and Os show.
Additional NFL-Centric Shows
SportsCenter Special: 2025 NFL Prediction Bonanza: Schrager will host a live prediction show on the first day of the NFL season (Thursday, Sept. 4), with Orlovsky, Jason McCourty, and Field Yates. Schrager, who has gained notoriety for his preseason Super Bowl predictions in recent seasons, including the Buccaneers, Rams and Chiefs’ runs, will lead the group through a series of predictions just hours before the season officially kicks off. The one-hour special (3-4 p.m. ET) leads into NFL Live.
NFL Turning Point: Using NFL Films footage, NFL Turning Point examines the crucial moments in games that defined the previous week. The show is available on ESPN+ each Wednesday beginning at 1:30 p.m. and will be narrated by Louis Riddick.
ESPN & Omaha Productions Launch New Podcast Hosted by Peter Schrager
Schrager will also host a new podcast, The Schrager Hour, which launched on September 3. Every Wednesday, Schrager will dive into key storylines and match-ups around the league, take you behind the scenes of Monday Night Football and recap his week on the road covering the NFL.
The debut episode featured Sean Payton, head coach of the Denver Broncos, who joined Schrager to discuss the upcoming season. Throughout the year, the podcast will welcome a wide range of guests including players, coaches, front office executives and other key voices from across the league.
In addition, Schrager will be on the sidelines of Monday Night Football alongside Katie George (Weeks 2, 4, 6, 7 and 18) and appear regularly across ESPN’s studio programming, including frequent appearances on Get Up, First Take, The Pat McAfee Show, NFL Live and SportsCenter. Around the NFL’s tentpole events such as the Super Bowl, free agency and the NFL Draft, his presence across these shows will expand even further.
ESPN Reveals 2025-26 College Football Commentator Roster; Top Teams Return for Another Season
ESPN’s award-winning coverage of college football will once again feature the deepest roster of on-air personalities in the sport for the 2025-26 season – a broad lineup of on-air talent, combining seasoned voices with emerging personalities.
The network will deploy more than two dozen teams of commentators, analysts and reporters to cover the season from August’s Week 0 kickoff through the College Football Playoff National Championship in Miami in January 2026.
Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit and reporter Holly Rowe will team up again to call marquee matchups on ABC and ESPN. The 2025 season marks Fowler and Herbstreit’s 12th year in the booth and their 30th season as college football teammates, beginning in 1996 on College GameDay. Fowler, a 2024 Sports Emmy nominee, and Herbstreit, the five-time Sports Emmy winner, have called all 11 College Football Playoff National Championship games together. Rowe, a 2023 Sports Emmy winner, joined the team in 2021 and is in her 30th year on the college football sidelines for ESPN and ABC.
Sean McDonough, Greg McElroy and Molly McGrath are pairing up for the third consecutive year. The Alabama National Champion quarterback enters his 10th season calling games for ESPN and ABC. One of the sport’s leading analysts, McElroy also has studio experience on ESPN and SEC Network, in addition to hosting ESPN and Omaha Productions’ Always College Football podcast. McDonough, one of the most accomplished broadcasters of his generation, returns to his regular ABC/ESPN rotation for the seventh straight year in addition to serving as ESPN’s lead NHL play-by-play voice. McGrath, a two-time Sports Emmy nominee who is fresh off her fourth consecutive College Football Playoff National Championship network assignment, is in her sixth season in this role and ninth consecutive year at ESPN.
The trio of veteran play-by-play voice Joe Tessitore, longtime ESPN analyst Jesse Palmer and,Georgewill team together for the third straight season. Palmer enters his 18th season at ESPN, previously working in both game and studio analyst roles across ESPN networks. He’s also a consistent face on ABC as host of the popular Bachelor franchise. For the better part of two decades, Tessitore has been among the premier broadcasters for ESPN and ABC’s coverage of college football, as well as the veteran blow-by-blow ringside commentator for Top Rank Boxing on ESPN and a commentator for WWE. George, a versatile reporter who has covered multiple sports and events for ESPN and ABC – including the NBA, UFL, F1, NCAA Volleyball and more, returns for her seventh year on the sidelines across ESPN networks. She is also a recent addition to ESPN’s NFL coverage, joining Fowler, Louis Riddick, Dan Orlovsky and Peter Schrager for select Monday Night Football doubleheaders.
Dave Pasch, Dusty Dvoracek and Taylor McGregor will call games as a trio for the second year, with Pasch and Dvoracek in the booth together for the fifth consecutive season. A versatile football and basketball play-by-play voice – who also calls Arizona Cardinals NFL games, Pasch celebrated his 20th year at ESPN last season. A two-time Oklahoma Sooner captain and former NFL Draft pick, Dvoracek also contributes to College Football Live, SportsCenter and various SEC Network programming. McGregor has been part of ESPN’s college football team since 2019 and is also a commentator and host for Chicago Cubs broadcasts. She was part of ESPN’s Women’s College World Series coverage in 2025.
Mark Jones, Roddy Jones and Quint Kessenich are paired up for the second straight season. Mark Jones has served as a college football commentator and leading NBA play-by-play voice for more than three decades, celebrating his 35th year at ESPN in 2025. Roddy Jones has been with ESPN since 2017, first as a sideline reporter and then as an analyst on both ACC Network and ESPN. Veteran reporter Kessenich is one of ESPN’s top lacrosse voices as an analyst and reporter on multiple NCAA Championship events and contributes weekly to ESPN’s coverage of the Premier Lacrosse League (PLL).
Bob Wischusen, Louis Riddick and Kris Budden will once again team up on ABC and ESPN. Wischusen, a college football, basketball, golf and NHL voice for ESPN, is also the New York Jets radio voice. Riddick, who is synonymous with ESPN’s NFL game, studio and NFL Draft coverage, readies for his fifth college football campaign and will continue to call select Monday Night Football games. Budden is a regular on ABC and ESPN covering college football, basketball, and is the lead sideline reporter for the Men’s College World Series, in addition to adding grand slam tennis reporting since 2024 and the Little League Softball World Series in 2025. Budden has also called multiple College Football Playoff National Championships on ESPN Radio and is a regular voice for college sports studio programming on Sirius XM.
Dave Flemming, Brock Osweiler and Stormy Buonantony link up for the second consecutive year. Flemming, who celebrates his 15th year at ESPN in 2025, brings more than a decade of experience calling college football, basketball, Major League Baseball, and golf. Osweiler, a former NFL quarterback and Super Bowl 50 champion with the Denver Broncos, joined ESPN in 2022 following his seven-year professional career and record-setting tenure at Arizona State. Buonantony enters her fourth season with ESPN and has added UFL and NHL responsibilities to her repertoire. An Emmy Award-winning journalist whose career spans roles with the Vegas Golden Knights, Carolina Panthers, and VSIN, The Sports Betting Network, the San Diego State alumna resides in her native Las Vegas.
Lead College Networks and HBCU Commentating Crews:
- ACC Network Primetime features a new look in 2025, as former Boston College head coach Steve Addazio moves to the ACCN lead crew, joined by longtime play-by-play voice Wes Durham and ESPN sideline reporter Dana Boyle.
- SEC Network returns its SEC Saturday Night trio of Tom Hart, Jordan Rodgers and Cole Cubelic for the ninth consecutive season, one of the longest running commentary teams in the sport.
- Tiffany Greene and Jay Walker team up each week in the booth on ESPN’s HBCU spotlights, along with the Cricket MEAC/SWAC Challenge Kick-Off and the Cricket Celebration Bowl on ABC. The duo has been paired up since 2018, when Greene became the first Black woman to serve as a play-by-play commentator in college football. Walker is a recent Black College Football Hall of Fame honoree, a 2018 MEAC Hall of Fame inductee and was voted into the Howard University Athletics Hall of Fame in 2005.
Additional Game Crews on ESPN Networks:
- Returning Teams:
- Anish Shroff, Andre Ware, and Paul Carcaterra
- Roy Philpott, Sam Acho, and Taylor Davis
- Mike Monaco, Kirk Morrison, and Dawn Davenport
- Taylor Zarzour, Matt Stinchcomb, and Alyssa Lang
- Jay Alter and Rocky Boiman
- Courtney Lyle and Rene Ingoglia
- Matt Schumacker and Dustin Fox
- Eric Frede and Jack Ford
- Marc Kestecher, Kelly Stouffer, and Ian Fitzsimmons (ESPN Radio)
- Mike Couzens, Max Starks, and Jordan Reid (ESPN Radio)
- Eduardo Varela, Pablo Viruega, Ciro Procuna, and Carlos Nava (ESPN Deportes)
- New Teams:
- Matt Barrie, Tom Luginbill, and Harry Lyles Jr.
- Lowell Galindo, Aaron Murray, and Lauren Sisler
- Wes Durham, Addazio, and Dana Boyle
- Dave Neal, Fozzy Whittaker, and Morgan Uber
- Chris Cotter, Max Browne, and Kendra Douglas
- Jorge Sedano, Rodney McLeod, and Victoria Arlen
- Chuckie Kempf and Darius Walker
- Clay Matvick and Chase Daniel
Additional ESPN college football commentators returning this fall include rules analysts Bill LeMonnier and Matt Austin, as well as dozens of other play-by-play commentators, analysts and reporters who will make contributions over the course of the 1,000+ games on ESPN networks.
In the studio, analyst EJ Manuel is expanding his responsibilities on ESPN networks, shifting from ACC Network to ESPN on Saturdays and joining Barrie and longtime ESPN analyst Joey Galloway. Manuel will still have a presence on ACC Network, co-hosting the ACC Network Football Podcast with Roddy Jones on Mondays and Wednesdays. Galloway, now in his 15th season with ESPN, will contribute analysis to marquee ESPN college football programming throughout the season, including the College Football Playoff Top 25 Rankings Show. Barrie continues with his play-by-play role on ESPN Thursday Night Football and hosting on-campus SportsCenter shows preceding those primetime showdowns. In addition to their traditional studio wraps, Barrie, Galloway and Manuel will also close out each Saturday with College Football Final, highlighting the day in college football.
Kevin Negandhi andMcFarland team up for their sixth straight season in studio together, wrapping up Saturday action on ABC for the 2025-26 campaign. McFarland and Negandhi also worked together on ABC wraps during the 2017 season. Beyond college football, McFarland contributes to studio programming across ESPN networks, including Get Up, SportsCenter, NFL PrimeTime, the annual NFL Draft presentation and Super Bowl week. Negandhi has anchored ABC’s college football studio coverage since 2019, and also co-hosts the 6 p.m. ET SportsCenter, leads ESPN’s coverage of the Special Olympic World Games and more.
Anchor Kevin Connors, who is beginning his seventh season on the ESPN2 desk, and analyst Trevor Matich return to the ESPN2 studio crew. Connors’ wide-ranging studio assignments include regular editions of SportsCenter, college football and basketball wraps, as well as Major League Baseball. He has handled play-by-play for college basketball and MLB games on ESPN as well. Matich is in his 18th year at ESPN and his second as a regular on ESPN2’s studio wraps. He also provides analysis for SportsCenter, College Football Live, ESPN Radio studio programming and more.
SEC Network Re-Signs Prolific Group of On-Air Personalities
Heading into the 2025 college football season, SEC Network has announced the renewals of seven familiar faces: Cole Cubelic, Chris Doering, Roman Harper, Alyssa Lang, Jordan Rodgers, Matt Stinchcomb and Benjamin Watson, who have totaled more than 40 years of experience with serving SEC fans. SEC Network viewers can also welcome back Gene Chizik, a national championship winning coach who has previously served as a studio analyst.
Chizik returns to SEC Network as a studio analyst, bringing his national championship winning perspective to viewers. His knowledge and expertise of the game will enlighten fans to the intricacies of the game. During his time with the Auburn Tigers, he led the team to a national championship, SEC championship and was named Coach of the Year from numerous outlets. Chizik will be a staple at the SEC Now desk each week throughout the fall.
A multi-faceted analyst, Cubelic re-signed a multi-year extension with SEC Network. He will continue his weekly football field analysis, teaming up with Tom Hart and Jordan Rodgers for SEC Saturday Night games for the ninth consecutive season. Cubelic also co-hosts Read & React every Monday throughout college football season, while also making regular appearances on SEC Now and The Paul Finebaum Show.
A staple in the Saturday football studios, Doering appears across the network on SEC Now and SEC Football Final each Saturday during the college football season. Doering also co-hosts SEC This Morning every Monday and Friday on both SECN and Sirius XM. He signs his extension after having been with SEC Network for nearly a decade.
Harper continues to grow and expand his presence with SEC Network after renewing his multi-year contract. The SEC Nation analyst will continue to join the crew on the signature weekly traveling show, bringing his energy to schools across the Southeast. The former Super Bowl Champion and NFL Pro Bowl safety co-hosts Read & React every Monday throughout college football season, while also making regular appearances on SEC Now and The Paul Finebaum Show. Harper has also contributed as a SportsCenter AM guest each Saturday and Sunday in the fall, prepping fans for all the keys to that weekend’s slate of games.
Lang – a versatile and veteran voice on the network – signed a multi-year extension. A host, anchor and sideline reporter for SEC Network, she works across football, basketball, gymnastics, baseball and softball. In addition to her SEC Network responsibilities, Lang is a sideline reporter for numerous ESPN games as well. She serves as one of the SEC Now anchors, bringing SEC fans all they need to know about the happenings around the league. Last year, Lang also had the opportunity to anchor SportsCenter for the first time in her career, joining the desk in both Bristol and L.A.
A fundamental voice on the network, Rodgers and ESPN have reached a multi-year extension. SEC Network fans can tune in to see Rodgers across their screens each Saturday as he continues to join the SEC Nation crew across college campuses each weekend this fall. Rodgers – alongside Hart and Cubelic – will continue to bring his analysis to SEC Saturday Night games across the southeast. Throughout the fall, Rodgers will also make appearances as an analyst for SEC on ABC games. He will also make regular appearances on ESPN weekday programming and The Paul Finebaum Show throughout the fall.
Stinchcomb – who has worked with the company for over 15 years – signed a multi-year agreement. The color commentator will continue to call SEC Network afternoon games alongside Zarzour and Lang in his 17th college football season. Stinchcomb will also keep up his appearances on studio programming on weekdays in both the fall and offseason as he brings fans the most up-to-date analysis of teams across the SEC.
After joining SEC Network in 2021, Super Bowl Champion and former Georgia standout Benjamin Watson extended his contract with the company. His expertise of the game is shown through his insightful takes on both SEC Now and SEC Football Final throughout the fall.
Katie Nolan Launches New Daily Fan-Focused Show on SiriusXM’s Mad Dog Sports Radio Channel
Katie Nolan will headline a new live daily call-in show on SiriusXM’s Mad Dog Sports Radio channel. Fan Service with Katie Nolan, which debuted on September 2, is her first live show, a daily fan-driven hour of radio created by a sports fan, for all sports fans to share in the joys and miseries of sports fandom.
In the Mad Dog Sports Radio (channel 82) weekday lineup, Nolan immediately follows Schein on Sports, hosted by Adam Schein (weekdays from 9 am-noon ET), and leads into The Stephen A. Smith Show (weekdays from 1-3 pm ET) and Mad Dog Unleashed, hosted by channel headliner Christopher “Mad Dog” Russo (weekdays from 3-6 pm ET).
The new daily show expands her presence on SiriusXM following the launch of her twice-weekly SiriusXM podcast, Casuals, in January. Casuals prioritizes covering the entertaining and cultural side of sports over the in-depth X’s and O’s talk and statistical breakdowns that can feel like a barrier to entry for many fans. Nolan will continue to record new episodes of the Casuals podcast twice a week, which are available to listeners wherever they get their podcasts.
Bussin’ With The Boys to Join Get Up, Additional ESPN Content for 2025-26 Football Season
ESPN’s signature morning show Get Up starring host Mike Greenberg is being joined this football season by two of the most entertaining new voices in sports media. Former NFL players Taylor Lewan and Will Compton, the hosts of the popular podcast and sports entertainment brand Bussin’ With The Boys, are making appearances across ESPN platforms throughout the football season, mainly on Get Up.
In addition to Get Up, Lewan and Compton will make select appearances on SportsCenter and other ESPN studio content.
ESPN Unveils Deep Roster of NBA Game Commentators for 2025-26 Season
ESPN has announced its deep roster of NBA game commentators for the 2025-26 season. Veteran analyst Tim Legler will join ESPN’s lead NBA broadcast team, which includes Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame broadcaster Mike Breen, analyst and NBA Champion Richard Jefferson and reporter Lisa Salters.
Legler, Breen, Jefferson and Salters will call the NBA Finals on ABC, the Conference Finals, high-profile first and second round games during the NBA Playoffs, a Christmas Day game and NBA Saturday Primetime on ABC – the marquee, national NBA game of the week. Legler is celebrating his 25th anniversary with ESPN, having served as an analyst since 2000.
ESPN has also signed Jefferson to a new, multi-year agreement. The NBA Champion served as NBA Finals analyst for the first time in 2025. He joined ESPN in 2019 as a studio analyst. Jefferson will continue to call ESPN’s top NBA games and make select studio appearances.
In addition, the network has reached a multi-year extension with analyst and Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame broadcaster Doris Burke. Burke will continue to call high-profile NBA games on ESPN and ABC, including the NBA Sunday Showcase series. Her assignments will include full slates of games throughout the regular season and the NBA Playoffs. Burke will regularly work alongside play-by-play voice Dave Pasch. With this new deal, Burke’s tenure at ESPN will extend more than 35 years. She first covered basketball for ESPN in 1991 and has since been assigned to 17 NBA Finals, including six as a game analyst between ABC and ESPN Radio, as well as 11 as sideline reporter on ABC.
Good Morning Football and Good Morning Football: Overtime Kick Off the 2025 NFL Season with New Talent Roster
NFL Network’s Emmy-winning show Good Morning Football, and nationally syndicated and streaming show Good Morning Football: Overtime kicked off the 2025 season with an exciting roster of new and returning hosts and contributors.
Joining veteran hosts Jamie Erdahl and Kyle Brandt at the breakfast table is former NFL linebacker Manti Te’o, adding to the show’s signature “asymmetrical” takes on top of NFL storylines and quick-witted pop culture references. Prior to being officially named a permanent host, Te’o appeared regularly on Good Morning Football and Good Morning Football: Overtime during the 2024 season. Sherree Burruss returns in her role covering the latest NFL news and contributing to special segments.
The team is continuing to bring Good Morning Football and Good Morning Football: Overtime live “coast-to-coast” from NFL Network’s Los Angeles headquarters and Good Morning Football’s New York studio Monday-Friday.
Two-time Super Bowl champion and recently-retired Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Brandon Graham has started his rookie year as a Good Morning Football guest host, with regular appearances throughout the season. Graham was a special guest host in May 2025, having announced his retirement in March after 15 seasons with the Eagles.
A longtime friend of Good Morning Football and an avid football fan, WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins is officially joining as a guest host, making appearances throughout the season. Rollins, a passionate Chicago Bears fan, has been a frequent guest on Good Morning Football over the years and spent several days guest hosting during the 2024 season.
Filling out the 2025 season roster of Good Morning Football guest hosts and contributors are:
- Former NFL wide receiver and Good Morning Football regular Isaiah Stanback
- Former NFL defensive back Will Blackmon
- Former NFL head coach and linebacker Ron Rivera
In addition to Good Morning Football airing daily on NFL Network, Good Morning Football: Overtime returned for its second season in syndication on Monday, Sept. 1. When the show launched last September, it became the first nationally syndicated daily football talk show. Distributed by Sony Pictures Television (SPT), Good Morning Football: Overtime has been officially renewed for season two, airing in all 32 NFL team markets. Check local listings for showtimes and stations.
ESPN and Cam Newton Agree to New Multi-Year Deal
ESPN has reached a new multi-year agreement with former NFL MVP Cam Newton, who will expand his role on First Take, ESPN’s signature morning debate show. Newton will bring his unique perspective to the show’s dynamic discussions. Newton joins a roster of prominent personalities on First Take, including Stephen A. Smith, host Molly Qerim, and Sirius XM’s Chris “Mad Dog” Russo.
ESPN Re-Signs National Reporter Jeff Darlington to a Multi-Year Agreement
ESPN has re-signed award-winning national reporter Jeff Darlington to a multi-year agreement, extending his tenure with the company beyond the decade mark, having joined in 2016. Firmly established as an NFL reporter, a league he has covered since 2005, the dynamic reporter will now expand his role to regularly include ESPN’s golf and tennis coverage as part of his new agreement, with ESPN’s Masters, PGA Championship and The Championships, Wimbledon presentations continuing to be part of his portfolio each year. The NFL remains a significant aspect of his role, contributing weekly to Sunday NFL Countdown and appearing year-round across additional studio shows.Darlington’s role at the Masters, PGA Championships and Wimbledon will extend beyond reporting, as he serves as the network’s essayist, further tapping into his storytelling strengths. For all three events, in addition to being a part of the network’s live coverage, Darlington will contribute to SportsCenter and other tournament-centric programming. The versatile reporter made his debut covering the Masters and PGA Championships in 2024 and Wimbledon in 2025.
In addition, Darlington will help usher in the first Sunday of the season on Sunday NFL Countdown (10 a.m.–1 p.m. ET, ESPN), reporting live from Buccaneers at Falcons on opening weekend of the season. Fellow reporters Jeremy Fowler (Bengals-Browns), Dan Graziano (Giants-Commanders), Kimberley A. Martin (Ravens-Bills), Paolantonio (Steelers-Jets) and Lindsey Thiry (Lions-Packers) will also contribute from game sites across the country. The dynamic group of reporters will virtually join in-studio commentators Bruschi, Moss, Ryan, Smith, Schefter and Greenberg.
ESPN Signs Vincent Goodwill to Multi-Year Deal as National NBA, New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets Writer
ESPN has signed veteran sports writer Vincent Goodwill to a multi-year deal. He will contribute to New York Knicks, Brooklyn Nets, and national coverage of the NBA. A Detroit native and graduate of Eastern Michigan University, Goodwill previously worked at Yahoo! Sports, NBC Sports Chicago, and The Detroit News.
ESPN Signs On-Air Sports Betting Analyst Erin Dolan to a Multi-year Contract Renewal
ESPN has agreed to a new, multi-year contract renewal with sports betting analyst Erin Dolan. As part of her deal, Dolan will be a regular on ESPN BET Live, SportsCenter, Sunday NFL Countdown and more.
Tom Caron Marks 30 Years at NESN with a Broadcast Like No Other
NESN honored longtime broadcaster Tom Caron with a special “TC Night” on August 29, celebrating 30 years with the network. Throughout the broadcast, Caron was involved in a number of different elements, including the pre-game, sideline reporting, throwing out first pitch, and others – showcasing the versatility that has made him a staple across NESN.
“Tom is so much more than a broadcaster. He’s part of New England’s sports fabric – a familiar face, a trusted storyteller, and a cherished member of our community,” says David Wisnia, President & CEO of NESN and Sportsnet Pittsburgh. “Thirty years is an incredible milestone, and TC Night is our way of honoring the versatility, authenticity, and warmth that have defined his career. Tom continues to leave a lasting, meaningful mark on NESN and the fans who have grown up watching him.”
Caron first joined NESN in 1995, quickly becoming a staple on Red Sox coverage and later anchoring Bruins broadcasts, college hockey, and beyond. Over the years, he has covered four Red Sox World Series championships, the rise of countless Boston sports legends, and some of New England’s most iconic sports moments. He also currently serves as Co-Chair of the Jimmy Fund, which recently raised a record-breaking $5.7 million in its annual radio telethon last week.
“Fenway has always felt like a second home to me, and NESN like a family,” says Caron. “I never imagined when I started in 1995 that I’d still be here 30 years later. To celebrate this way – stepping into so many different roles in one night – is going to be a lot of fun. I can’t wait to share it with our viewers.”
