ESPN is about to welcome back one of its most recognizable personalities.
Rich Eisen, who first captured audience attention during his ESPN tenure two decades ago, is set to make a surprising return to the network where his career took off.
Starting this fall, “The Rich Eisen Show” will transition from its current home on Roku to ESPN.
“More than two decades after leaving ESPN, Rich Eisen is returning to the network as part of its forthcoming direct-to-consumer offering, sources tell Andrew Marchand,” The Athletic reported.
More than two decades after leaving ESPN, Rich Eisen is returning to the network as part of its forthcoming direct-to-consumer offering, sources tell @AndrewMarchand. pic.twitter.com/stX1em2WqS
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) May 12, 2025
According to sources, the 55-year-old broadcaster will follow a business model similar to Pat McAfee’s arrangement, maintaining ownership and creative control while licensing his popular show to ESPN.
The timing of Eisen’s comeback aligns perfectly with ESPN’s strategic evolution.
The sports media giant is preparing to launch a standalone streaming service that will give viewers complete access to ESPN programming without requiring traditional cable subscriptions.
Reports suggest “The Rich Eisen Show” could find multiple homes within the ESPN ecosystem, potentially appearing on ESPN Radio while also streaming on ESPN+ and Disney+.
Longtime sports fans will remember Eisen’s previous ESPN role, where he co-anchored “SportsCenter” alongside Stuart Scott from 1996 until 2003.
Despite this homecoming, Eisen isn’t cutting ties with NFL Network, where he’s been a fixture since leaving ESPN.
He’ll continue serving as the lead host for “GameDay” and NFL Draft coverage, plus calling select football games throughout the season.
This move comes amid industry speculation about ESPN potentially acquiring NFL Network. The two media entities have reportedly been in discussions throughout the past year.
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