Veteran ESPN NFL insider Chris Mortensen announces retirement. Plus: NFL Network announces the addition of several new analysts, Michael Irvin noticeably absent; ESPN’s “Daily Wager” returns to Bristol, CT.
Chris Mortensen announces retirement
Chris Mortensen announced today that he stepped away from ESPN following April’s NFL Draft. Mortensen covered the NFL for 33 seasons at ESPN after joining the network in 1991.
A mainstay of ESPN’s NFL programming, Mortensen appeared on flagship shows such as “SportsCenter” and “Sunday NFL Countdown.”
In his statement, Mortensen said, “It’s not a classic retirement. I’ll still be here talking ball. It’s just time.” Mortensen has been battling esophageal cancer since 2016 and noted that part of his decision to step away was to focus on his health.
Read his full statement here.
NFL Network adds analysts, Irvin absent
NFL Network announced the cast of its “NFL Gameday Morning” show on Wednesday with analyst Michael Irvin noticeably absent. Irvin has not appeared on NFL Network since he was accused of inappropriate comments by a hotel worker during Super Bowl week; he has since sued the accuser and the hotel. In addition to NFL Network, Irvin also lost his role on ESPN’s “First Take” and has since resurfaced as a co-host on FS1’s “Undisputed”.
Replacing Irvin on “Gameday Morning” is NFL Media newcomer Gerald McCoy, one of six new analysts this season alongside former Stanford Head Coach David Shaw, longtime NFL coach Leslie Frazier, and former quarterback Chase Daniel.
Shaw and Frazier will appear on the “NFL GameDay Live” studio show that airs Sunday afternoons. Daniel will appear on the Friday evening “NFL Total Access.” Also joining the network as analysts are longtime NFL assistant coach Pep Hamilton and former NFL running back Robert Turbin.
Read the full press release here.
Daily Wager back in Bristol
ESPN’s flagship gambling show “Daily Wager” is returning to the company’s Bristol, CT headquarters on Tuesday after a three year stint in Las Vegas. ESPN moved the show to a Las Vegas studio in 2019 as part of its then-partnership with Caesars Sportsbook, but that has come to an end as a result of its new relationship with Penn Entertainment.
The return to Connecticut will also come with a schedule shift. “Daily Wager” will feature a Saturday morning show at 11am ET that leads into college football. The Sunday morning edition will air at 9am ET. The show will also air on Monday, Thursday, and Friday during the week — all on ESPN2.
Read the full press release here.
