Rich Eisen says he's done calling NFL games amid ESPN shift
Rich Eisen has announced he is done calling NFL games, telling Jimmy Traina on the SI Media podcast, "I believe I am. Yes, I am." The NFL Network host says play-by-play clashes with his instincts as a broadcaster, and his booth opportunities dried up after ESPN took over NFL Network production following its NFL Media acquisition.
Key Takeaways
- Rich Eisen told Jimmy Traina's SI Media podcast he no longer expects to call NFL games.
- ESPN's takeover of NFL Network production ended Eisen's international play-by-play slate.
- Eisen partnered with Kurt Warner on overseas games since 2018 but says the role clashed with his hosting style.
- He continues hosting NFL GameDay Morning on Sunday mornings for NFL Network.
- ESPN has leaned on nostalgia, bringing Eisen and other 2000s-era voices back to its platforms.
Why is Rich Eisen stepping away from play-by-play?
On the latest episode of SI Media With Jimmy Traina, Eisen gave a direct answer to a question that had followed him for months. When Traina asked whether calling extra games for NFL Network remained part of his résumé, Eisen replied, "I believe I am. Yes, I am."
Eisen described the job as "so counter to what I normally do." As host of NFL GameDay Morning, his instinct is to fill dead air. In the booth, he said, "Your job is to shut the f up after the big moment happens."
He also noted a steep learning curve, telling Traina that becoming truly good at play-by-play requires reps: "To be as good as you want to be at that, you've got to do it a lot."
What ended Eisen's partnership with Kurt Warner in the booth?
Eisen built a second career on NFL Network almost by accident, stepping into play-by-play years after establishing himself as a host. His first assignment came in October 2018, calling the Philadelphia Eagles and Jacksonville Jaguars at Wembley Stadium alongside Kurt Warner.
The duo became the network's go-to pairing for its international package. Last year, NBC produced a YouTube broadcast with Eisen and Warner on the call. This year, YouTube has no NFL games after walking away when the league split that package between the platform and Netflix.
ESPN has taken over production decisions for NFL Network following its acquisition of NFL Media earlier this year. Reporting had already suggested Eisen would not keep the international slate once ESPN assumed control. Dave Pasch signed an extension with ESPN this summer that put him in line for that same package.
How does Rich Eisen's exit connect to NFL Network's ESPN era?
The shift lands amid broader uncertainty around NFL Network's future after its merger with ESPN. Yahoo Sports and Awful Announcing note the deal also killed off the Monday Night Football doubleheader, with NFL broadcast planner Mike North later calling the format "probably wasn't a good use of an NFL asset."
Eisen's play-by-play departure does not remove him from screens entirely. He stays where fans know him best, hosting NFL GameDay Morning on Sunday mornings. For more on high-profile media pivots, see our Celebrity Breaking News coverage.
Critics of his booth work never fully quieted. The Athletic's Andrew Marchand previously wrote that Eisen "is just not a play-by-player" and argued he called games without the instinct that comes from reps.
Where does Rich Eisen fit in ESPN's nostalgic 2026 lineup?
Separate from his booth decision, Eisen's broader career arc mirrors a wider ESPN trend. As Awful Announcing reported, Eisen was a premier SportsCenter face in the early 2000s before leaving in 2003 to help launch NFL Network.
In recent months, he has returned with The Rich Eisen Show on ESPN Radio, nostalgic SportsCenter appearances, and positioning as an emergency failsafe if Pat McAfee ever departs. ESPN has similarly brought back Skip Bayless for First Take reunions and Mike Golic's show with his son to weekday radio.
Based on how Eisen described the decision to Traina, closing the play-by-play chapter appears fine by him. The hosting chair, not the broadcast booth, remains his lane.