• Loading stock data...
Saturday, July 12, 2025
exclusive
Media

Amazon Wants Taylor Rooks For ‘Thursday Night Football’

  • Rooks has focused primarily on NBA at Bleacher Report.
  • But she wants to do more NFL coverage.
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Rising star Taylor Rooks could be adding prime-time NFL football coverage to her resume.

Amazon Prime Video is interested in adding the Bleacher Report reporter, host, and anchor to its “Thursday Night Football” coverage, sources tell Front Office Sports. 

Rooks focuses primarily on the NBA for B/R and Turner Sports, recently interviewing the likes of Shaquille O’Neal and Candace Parker. 

But she could contribute feature stories to Amazon, said sources. The tech giant’s exclusive streaming coverage of TNF kicks off Sep. 15, with the Los Angeles Chargers at Kansas City Chiefs. 

The Georgia native could work for both Amazon and B/R — a non-exclusive relationship that’s becoming more common as sports media companies seek to defray costs.  

Amazon game analyst Kirk Herbstreit, for example, will continue to call Saturday night college football games for ESPN’s sister Walt Disney Co. network ABC. 

Herbstreit will team with the legendary Al Michaels at Amazon, which is paying $1 billion a year for exclusive TNF streaming rights through 2033.

During an interview with Barrett Sports Media last year, Rooks stated she wanted to do more NFL coverage.

“Just being from Georgia, in the South, I grew up loving football. My dad played football. It was a football house. I love basketball — I love them both, but I just love football a little bit more,” she said. 

“I’ve gotten kind of sucked into doing mainly NBA, which is great and has led to so many amazing experiences, but I just wish I had more of a hand in football. I would love to be able to do more of that.”

Rooks’ emergence comes with Charissa Thompson now the favorite to land the on-site anchor job for Amazon’s pre, post and halftime shows, said sources. 

The host of the “Fox NFL Kickoff” pregame show is competing against Colleen Wolfe and Kay Adams of NFL Network for the “Thursday Night Football” studio gig. 

Adams, the long-time host of “Good Morning Football, was the previous favorite, but she hasn’t come to terms with Amazon on salary, said sources. However, she’s still a candidate for the job.

Meanwhile, Kaylee Hartung is the lead candidate to serve as sideline reporter for TNF.

Studio analysts could include Pro Football Hall of Famer Tony Gonzalez, Sean Payton, Richard Sherman, and retiring NFL QB Ryan Fitzpatrick. 

Amazon also wants Pat McAfee for an alternative telecast similar to Peyton and Eli Manning’s “ManningCast” for ESPN’s “Monday Night Football.” 

There could be as many as three alternative presentations backing up the main telecast by Herbstreit and Michaels.

Amazon, B/R and Turner all declined comment on Rooks.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Bobbleheads are seen at Vintage Indy Sports, Tuesday, April 29, 2025 in Speedway. The local sports memorabilia store opened recently.

Baseball’s Bobbleheads Are the Center of the Collectibles Universe

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

30 NFL Second-Rounders Still Unsigned With Camps Set to Open

Saturday is the earliest rookie report date for training camp.
Cobh Ramblers
exclusive

Ireland’s Ramblers Latest Soccer Club to Gain U.S. Owner

The Ramblers play in the League of Ireland First Division.

Featured Today

Rimouski, QC - JUNE 1: Final Game of the 2025 Memorial Cup between the Medicine Hats Tigers and the London Knights on June 1, 2025, at the Colisée Financière Sun Life in Rimouski, Qc.

CHL Is Facing a ‘Pandora’s Box’ of Questions Amid NCAA Talent Departure

As players defect to college, the Canadian Hockey League won’t cede ground.
Jun 28, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh (29) bats during the game between the Texas Rangers and the Seattle Mariners at Globe Life Field.
July 9, 2025

The Torpedo Bat Business Is Still Going Strong: ‘Here to Stay’

Demand for the oddly shaped bats has stayed strong across the sport.
July 6, 2025

American Celebs Want to Be Sports Owners. Soccer Is Where They Start

As U.S. team prices climb, investors set their sights abroad.
July 5, 2025

Baseball’s Celebrity Row: Behind MLB’s First-Pitch Ritual

Often planned, sometimes spontaneous, the ritual throw is baseball’s celebrity row.
Jul 10, 2025; Wimbledon, United Kingdom; Iga Swiatek of Poland at her on court interview after winning her match against Belinda Bencic of Switzerland on day 11 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club.

Wimbledon Set to Deliver Strong Finals Matchup for ESPN

Novak Djokovic is still in the hunt for his 25th Grand Slam.
Feb 7, 2025; Storrs, Connecticut, USA; UConn Huskies center Tarris Reed Jr. (5) reacts after his basket against the St. John's Red Storm in the first half at Harry A. Gampel Pavilion.
July 8, 2025

After Decade Apart, ESPN and Big East Rekindle Media Rights Relationship

After a decade-plus apart, the network will stream hundreds of conference events.
Paige Bueckers
exclusive
July 8, 2025

Women’s March Madness Expansion Wouldn’t Yield More ESPN Money

ESPN is not required to pay extra if women’s March Madness expands.
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
Jul 6, 2025; Houston, Texas, USA; Mexico forward Marcel Ruiz (14) heads the ball in front of United States midfielder Brenden Aaronson (11) in the second half during the 2025 Gold Cup Final at NRG Stadium.
July 7, 2025

USMNT Struggles Still Produce Big Gold Cup Ratings for Fox

The U.S. team’s recent issues culminated in a loss to Mexico.
July 2, 2025

Paramount Settles Trump Suit Ahead of NFL Season, Skydance Merger

The deal likely allows the much larger Skydance merger deal to proceed.
Leo Messi
June 27, 2025

TNT, Club World Cup Ride Messi to Surprisingly Solid Debut Ratings

TNT Sports carries about a third of matches in the U.S.
June 24, 2025

Fever vs. Aces Draws 5th-Largest TV Audience of 2025 WNBA Season

ESPN will carry seven more Indiana Fever games this year.