• Loading stock data...
Saturday, July 19, 2025

ESPN Announces Contract Extension With Laura Rutledge

ESPN said it has signed Laura Rutledge to a multi-year contract extension.

Oct 5, 2024; College Station, Texas, USA; SEC Nation host Laura Rutledge speaks prior to the game between the Texas A&M Aggies and the Missouri Tigers at Kyle Field.
Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images.

ESPN has locked up one its brightest young stars with a new long-term deal.

The network said it has signed Laura Rutledge to a multi-year contract extension.

The 36-year-old rising star will continue to host NFL Live and SEC Nation. She’ll also maintain and pick up more marquee NFL and college football sideline reporter assignments, including post-season games.

“Laura is a consummate professional and wonderful teammate,” said Burke Magnus, ESPN’s president of content, in a statement. “Her versatility allows us to utilize her in multiple roles, across numerous sports, throughout the year. We are fortunate to have her.”

Rutledge, an 11-year veteran of ESPN, also contributes to the network’s annual coverage of the NFL Draft and to studio shows such as Get Up and First Take.

During Super Bowl week in New Orleans, Rutledge spoke to Front Office Sports about how she balances her heavy workload with family life that includes two young children. 

“What I’ve found with little kids especially is that even just sitting and playing with them for 30 minutes is valuable time to them—and it’s valuable time to me,” Rutledge said. 

“I think I get more out of it even than they do. I try to find time to sit my daughter down and say—‘Look at me, let me tell you how proud of you I am, let me tell you how amazing you are’—so that those are the things that are circling in her mind when I’m not there. My son is 19 months old so he doesn’t understand a lot of the time. He’s very attached to me, so that’s been really hard. Even coming here [to New Orleans], I’ve guilted myself about it—I couldn’t do an emotional goodbye with him, so I had to sneak out of the house.”

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Ryan Field Construction
exclusive

First Look Inside Northwestern’s $862 Million New Ryan Field

Five big things FOS learned on our exclusive stadium tour.
Jul 13, 2025; Atlanta, GA, USA; MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred announces the pick for the Athletics pick during the MLB Draft at The Coca-Cola Roxy.

Manfred Says MLB Had Wrong Approach to Creators Like Jomboy

“You gotta go where people are going,” the commissioner said.
(NCL_OSU_11_SUGAR_LAURON 04JAN11) Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Terrelle Pryor (2) slips around the Arkansas Razorbacks defense during first half of the Sugar Bowl at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, January 4, 2011.

Terrelle Pryor’s Case for NIL Backpay Dismissed in Court

Pryor played seven years in the NFL after leaving OSU amid a scandal.

Featured Today

Jul 21, 2024; Ayrshire, SCT; Xander Schauffele celebrates with Claret Jug after winning the Open Championship golf tournament at Royal Troon.

The Boozy History and Traditions of The Open’s Claret Jug

The Open awards the world’s most famous wine decanter.
2025 PDC World Darts Championship Final - Luke Littler vs Michael Van Gerwen
July 16, 2025

A Teen Darts Prodigy Is Becoming Bigger Than the Game Itself

Luke ‘The Nuke’ Littler is cashing in on his devastatingly accurate shot.
May 31, 2025; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Sydney McLaughin-Levrone (USA) reacts before the women's 100m hurdles during the Grand Slam Track Philadelphia at Franklin Field
exclusive
July 13, 2025

Track’s New Money Is Running Into Old Problems

The sport’s big-money era has hit some speed bumps in 2025.
Bobbleheads are seen at Vintage Indy Sports, Tuesday, April 29, 2025 in Speedway. The local sports memorabilia store opened recently.
July 12, 2025

Baseball’s Bobbleheads Are the Center of the Collectibles Universe

Baseball’s most important keepsake drives long lines—and big business.

Netflix Beats Projections Again—and Plots Big Holiday Sports Slate

The streaming giant again beats analyst projections in every respect.
Jul 15, 2025; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; National League designated hitter Kyle Schwarber (12) of the Philadelphia Phillies hits a home run in the swing off of after the 2025 MLB All Star Game ended in a tie at Truist Park.
July 16, 2025

MLB All-Star Game Viewership Dips Despite Historic Swing-Off

Game viewership falls 3% despite late dramatics in the unique tiebreaker.
July 17, 2025

ESPN Bidding Against NBC, Apple for MLB Rights Package

The league continues to negotiate with multiple media-rights bidders.
Sponsored

Game On: Portfolio Players Stories, Brought to You by E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley

Dealmaker Jeffrey Kaplan maps the evolution of sports as an asset class
July 15, 2025

MLB Home Run Derby Draws 5.7M Viewers on ESPN, Up 5%

ESPN reverses the trend from last year and registers audience growth.
July 15, 2025

WNBA Hits Fourth-Highest ABC Viewership With Clark-Bueckers Duel

Clark missed the first Fever vs. Wings game with an injury.
Brittney Griner and Caitlin Clark
exclusive
July 15, 2025

‘Good Morning America’ Will Air From WNBA All-Star in First

The All-Star Game’s relevance has exploded with the league in recent years.
NBC Sports
exclusive
July 14, 2025

NBC Hiring Ex-Hawks Exec Grant Liffmann As NBA Front Office Insider

Liffmann spent the last three years with Atlanta after covering the Warriors.