or


[02/26/25 - 08:27 AM]
ESPN Re-Signs Laura Rutledge to Multi-Year Contract; Extends Popular Host and Reporter's Tenure into Second Decade
Rutledge's presence during her new agreement will continue to include hosting the Emmy-nominated "NFL Live" year-round and see her remain on the broadcast team for marquee NFL and college football games as well as signature events, such as the NFL Draft, the Masters, SEC Kickoff and more.

[via press release from ESPN]

ESPN Re-Signs Laura Rutledge to Multi-Year Contract; Extends Popular Host and Reporter's Tenure into Second Decade

· Current Host of NFL Live and SEC Nation

· Maintains and Adds Marquee NFL and College Football Sideline Assignments, Including Postseason Games

· The Masters, NFL Draft, and SEC Kickoff Among Continued Signature Events

ESPN has re-signed Laura Rutledge to a multi-year contract, extending the versatile and popular host and reporter who has enjoyed a prominent role since 2014. Rutledge's presence during her new agreement will continue to include hosting the Emmy-nominated NFL Live year-round and see her remain on the broadcast team for marquee NFL and college football games as well as signature events, such as the NFL Draft, the Masters, SEC Kickoff and more. Rutledge is the host of SEC Nation each Saturday morning during the football season, a role she has maintained since 2016.

In addition to on-air roles, Rutledge remains a company ambassador at signature industry events. Additional responsibilities may be added during the duration of the agreement.

"Laura is a consummate professional and wonderful teammate," said Burke Magnus, ESPN President of Content. "Her versatility allows us to utilize her in multiple roles, across numerous sports, throughout the year. We are fortunate to have her."

Said Rutledge: "ESPN has provided me the support and freedom to build my dream career since I arrived eager to learn and grow. I appreciate its continued faith in me and hope they recognize the gratitude and pride I have working for the company. On a personal level, so many colleagues have become mentors and dear friends during my 10 years and I have relationships with them that will always be special, including my NFL Live team who I consider family."

Excellence in Sideline Reporting

Rutledge possesses vast sideline experience, having boosted her NFL role the past three seasons in conjunction with ESPN's expanded NFL regular season and postseason games portfolio. In the coming seasons, Rutledge will continue to report from the sidelines for the company's Monday night Wild Card and Divisional Playoff game, alongside Lisa Salters.

During the regular season, Rutledge is on the broadcast team for Monday Night Football when ESPN has multiple MNF games in the same week, while also joining Joe Buck, Troy Aikman and Salters for multiple weeks throughout the season.

In January 2024, Rutledge was on the sidelines for ESPN's first NFL Divisional Round playoff game and then again in January 2025 for Texans-Chiefs in the same round, ESPN's most-viewed NFL game ever (33.8 million viewers). She made her NFL debut in 2018.

On the college side, Rutledge will continue to be part of the broadcast team for one College Football Playoff Semifinal each year, an assignment she began seven seasons ago. In the regular season, she will continue to help amplify highly anticipated matchups, often joining Holly Rowe, as she did for several SEC on ABC showdowns, as well as this season's SEC Championship. Rutledge began her ESPN career as a sideline reporter for SEC Network.

NFL Live Has Thrived with Rutledge as Host

NFL Live has achieved industry recognition and immense viewership success during the five years (2020 - present) Rutledge has been at the helm with Ryan Clark, Mina Kimes, Dan Orlovsky and Marcus Spears as the primary analysts. In both 2023 and 2024, NFL Live was nominated for Sports Emmy Awards, as a finalist for the Outstanding Studio Show - Daily.

The daily show's four most recent seasons (2024, 2023, 2022 and 2021) are the four most-watched seasons for the program dating back to 2016. The most-recent Emmy nomination followed the show's superb January 2024 viewership, its most-watched month of NFL Playoffs since 2015. The accolades and success have been continuously documented.

Each February, Rutledge and NFL Live punctuate the season with onsite coverage at the Super Bowl.

Rutledge Has Been Integral to SEC Network's Success

Rutledge has been part of the fabric of SEC Nation for the past 10 seasons, first as a reporter and then as the traveling show's host for the past nine seasons. In addition to being a campus centerpiece each Saturday morning and onsite at select CFP games, SEC Nation is regularly among SEC Network's most-watched programming for the entire year.

Beyond Saturday mornings, during the entire 10+ year run of SEC Network, Rutledge has been one of the most visible and celebrated on-air personalities across the SEC landscape.

A Decade of Distinction

In addition to her hosting and sideline responsibilities, Rutledge's first decade at ESPN has seen her contribute across platforms.

· Been a contributor on Get Up and anchored SportsCenter.

· Been part of ABC's NFL Draft presentation for multiple years, a role she will maintain.

· Debuted (April 2024) within ESPN's coverage of the Masters, which she will also continue.

· Hosted SEC Kickoff coverage on SEC Network, a role she will maintain.

· Hosted red carpet coverage at the NFL Draft, The Home Depot College Football Awards and the ESPYS.

· Contributed to multiple shows across The Walt Disney Company, including ABC News and Good Morning America. Most recently, Rutledge received widespread praise for her measured reporting on the New Year's Eve terrorist attack in New Orleans.

· Been part of broadcast teams for basketball, gymnastics, baseball and softball, including the NCAA Women's Gymnastics Championship and both the Women's College World Series and Men's College World Series.

More on Rutledge

Rutledge has a broadcasting journalism degree from the University of Florida, where she also won the 2011 Red Barber Award for Excellence in Broadcasting at UF. Rutledge is an Ambassador for the Miracle League, an organization that builds baseball fields for children with disabilities.

Prior to joining ESPN, Rutledge was a sports anchor for CNN's New Day and Early Start. She also worked on HLN's Morning Express with Robin Meade, as well as at Fox Sports.

Rutledge currently resides in Connecticut with her husband Josh Rutledge, a former MLB player who is the owner of West Alabama Ford in Sulligent, Ala. They have two children: Reese and Jack.





  [february 2025]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
      


· SHOWATCH
(series past and present)
· DEVWATCH
(series in development)
· MOVIEWATCH
(tv movies and mini-series)





[10/24/25 - 02:30 PM]
Video: First Look at Upcoming New Drama "Memory of a Killer" Starring Patrick Dempsey and Michael Imperioli - Premiering This January on FOX
Dempsey stars as a hitman, Angelo Doyle, leading a dangerous double life while hiding an even deadlier personal secret - he has developed early onset Alzheimer's.

[10/24/25 - 02:02 PM]
"20/20" Is Friday's Most-Watched Newsmagazine Across the Board
In addition, "20/20" posted its best Adults 25-54 in more than four months.

[10/24/25 - 02:01 PM]
ABC News' "Nightline" Ranks No. 1 Across the Board, Leading NBC in All Key Demos for the 4th Straight Week
"Nightline" grew year to year across the board: Total Viewers, Adults 25-54, and Adults 18-49.

[10/24/25 - 01:05 PM]
"Dancing with the Stars" Makes Television History - Rising for Fifth Straight Week
The October 21 episode scored 6.63 million Total Viewers and a 1.38 rating among Adults 18-49, hitting new season highs in both demographics.

[10/24/25 - 08:01 AM]
Netflix Announces "Hollywood Arts," A Brand-New Spinoff of Hit Live-Action, "Victorious," with Daniella Monet Returning as Star and Executive Producer
The series is set to debut on Netflix in 2026, followed by releases on Nickelodeon and Paramount+.

[10/24/25 - 07:14 AM]
FOX Sports Readies for Major League Baseball's 121st World Series Presented by Capital One
Action leads off Friday, October 24, between the National League and current reigning World champion Los Angeles Dodgers and American League champion Toronto Blue Jays from Rogers Centre in Toronto, Canada, on FOX, FOX Deportes, the FOX Sports App and FOX One.

[10/24/25 - 07:01 AM]
Video: "Love Is Blind" Season 9: The Reunion - Official Trailer - Netflix
Denver singles shake up their search for "the one" and step into the pods, braving twists, turns and love triangles to find their soulmate sight unseen.

[10/24/25 - 07:01 AM]
Experience the Family, the Fun, and the Fantastic! Marvel Studios' "The Fantastic Four: First Steps" Lands Exclusively on Disney+ November 5
Continuing the celebration of Marvel's First Family, the announcement was made live from SpaceCon 2025 in San Antonio, where The Fantastic Four: First Steps Immersive Pop-Up Experience invites attendees to step inside the iconic Baxter Building.

[10/24/25 - 06:00 AM]
The CW Network and Xfinity Celebrate 11 Years of the NASCAR Xfinity Series by Presenting the Third Stage of the Championship Race Commercial-Free
Taking place in Phoenix, Arizona, on Saturday, November 1, the commercial-free stage presented by Xfinity was created to thank the loyal race fans who have supported the NASCAR Xfinity Series for more than a decade - helping the series grow through their unwavering enthusiasm, increased viewership, and continued trackside attendance.

[10/23/25 - 05:01 PM]
Video: "As You Stood By" - Official Trailer - Netflix
When two women plot to end an abusive marriage through murder, an unexpected visitor arrives - threatening to shatter everything they've carefully planned.

[10/23/25 - 02:33 PM]
Largest Audience for "NBA Tip-Off" Doubleheader Since 2010 as NBA Returned to NBC and Debuted on Peacock
Tuesday night's audience across NBC and Peacock peaked at 7.1 million viewers from 10:45-11 p.m. ET as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder to a one-point win over the Houston Rockets in double overtime.

[10/23/25 - 02:28 PM]
The 305 Just Got Hotter: "Love & Hip Hop: Miami" Moves to BET Season 7 Premieres Tuesday, November 4 at 8 PM ET/PT
The upcoming seventh season dives deeper than ever into Miami's thriving entertainment scene, following a cast of stars who are rebuilding, rebranding, and redefining success in real time.

[10/23/25 - 01:30 PM]
Critically Acclaimed Noir Thriller, "Dark Winds," to Return to AMC and AMC+ Sunday, February 15
The series' gripping fourth season focuses on the search for a missing Navajo girl, which takes Leaphorn, Chee and Manuelito from the safety of Navajo Nation to the gritty terrain of 1970s Los Angeles in a race against the clock to save her from an obsessive killer with ties to organized crime.

[10/23/25 - 12:01 PM]
Video: BET+ Releases Trailer for Horror Film "A Demon's Revenge"
In the film, following the bloodshed in Belize, Peaches, played by Jhoné Lucas, delves deeper into Caribbean folklore and the terrifying truth that lurks beneath.

[10/23/25 - 12:00 PM]
FOX Entertainment Acquires Equity Stake in Chain, Forging Strategic Partnership with Experiential Food Phenomenon Co-Founded by B.J. Novak
Included in the investment is a first look development deal through Chain Media.