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ESPN made the right move picking Mike Greenberg as the new host of Sunday NFL Countdown on Tuesday.
From what I hear, the choice came to Greenberg, host of Get Up, or Laura Rutledge, host of NFL Live. Nothing against Rutledge, who’s a terrific talent. But Greenberg was the best candidate.
The versatile 57-year-old host ably succeeded the legendary Chris Berman and Trey Wingo as host of ESPN’s NFL draft coverage—and talks about league news every day on Get Up, with analysts such as Marcus Spears and Dan Orlovsky. More importantly, there’s no ESPN host who elicits more insights and information out of their interview than Greenberg.
For years, I’ve watched Rex Ryan get lost in the shuffle on Countdown. Then on Monday mornings, when the former Jets coach is on Get Up with Greenberg, he’s suddenly terrific on TV. Funny, insightful, even news-making. It’s not just the change of locations. It’s the way Greenberg draws insights from his guests. The best barometer of a TV host/interviewer is what they get out of their panelists. And nobody’s better than Greenberg.
During my interview with Greenberg last year, he referred to himself as the “point guard” dishing out assists on his show. “I think I’m able to get the very best out of each person if they’re willing to bring it every day to what we do,” he noted.
Don’t cry for Rutledge. She’ll continue to host ESPN’s weekday football show. The rising 35-year-old star has had a meteoric rise since joining ESPN in 2014 as a reporter on SEC Network. She’s served as a sideline reporter and reporter for ESPN’s NFL draft and Pro Bowl coverage. While Greenberg hosted ESPN’s draft coverage this year, Rutledge interviewed prospects’ families in the green room for sister Disney network ABC.
Similar to Greenberg, a good TV host has to be “egoless,” according to Rutledge. “A successful show, looking back on it, is where I can say I really didn’t talk that much. They [her analysts] asked each other questions. I didn’t have to interject. I let them do their thing,” she told The Athletic. “Meanwhile, I am sitting there thinking constantly. I have directions that I can divert to based on something that somebody said. We keep it very loose and conversational.”
Sam Ponder and Robert Griffin III were let go in a cost-cutting move by ESPN last week. That closed out seven seasons of Ponder trying to live up to Berman’s outsized image as Countdown host. For Greenberg, it’s another plum assignment. He can now add Countdown host to his portfolio, which includes host of Get Up since 2018, and anchor for the first two nights of ESPN coverage since 2021.
Launched in 1985 as NFL GameDay, Countdown is entering its 40th season on the air. Greenberg will lead a large cast, including returning analysts Randy Moss, Rex Ryan, Tedy Bruschi, and Alex Smith; insider Adam Schefter; and reporters Jeff Darlington, Dan Graziano, Kimberley A. Martin, Sal Paolantonio, Lindsey Thiry, and Erin Dolan.
Michael McCarthy’s “Tuned In” column is at your fingertips every week with the latest insights and ongoings around sports media. If he hears it, you will, too.
This September, the column will come to life as a one-day event bringing together industry experts to discuss media trends and the future of fan viewership. The event will take place in New York on Sept. 10 at Times Center (242 W. 41st St.).
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