ESPN has re-signed host and sideline reporter Laura Rutledge to a multi-year contract. She has been with ESPN since 2014. Rutledge’s presence during her new agreement will continue to include hosting the Emmy-nominated NFL Live year-round and see her remain on the broadcast team for marquee NFL and college football games as well as signature events, such as the NFL Draft, the Masters, SEC Kickoff and more. Rutledge is the host of SEC Nation each Saturday morning during the football season, a role she has maintained since 2016.
In addition to on-air roles, Rutledge remains a company ambassador at signature industry events. Additional responsibilities may be added during the duration of the agreement.
“Laura is a consummate professional and wonderful teammate,” said Burke Magnus, ESPN President of Content. “Her versatility allows us to utilize her in multiple roles, across numerous sports, throughout the year. We are fortunate to have her.”
Said Rutledge: “ESPN has provided me the support and freedom to build my dream career since I arrived eager to learn and grow. I appreciate its continued faith in me and hope they recognize the gratitude and pride I have working for the company. On a personal level, so many colleagues have become mentors and dear friends during my 10 years and I have relationships with them that will always be special, including my NFL Live team who I consider family.”
Rutledge possesses vast sideline experience, having boosted her NFL role the past three seasons in conjunction with ESPN’s expanded NFL regular season and postseason games portfolio. In the coming seasons, Rutledge will continue to report from the sidelines for the company’s Monday night Wild Card and Divisional Playoff game, alongside Lisa Salters.
During the regular season, Rutledge is on the broadcast team for Monday Night Football when ESPN has multiple MNF games in the same week, while also joining Joe Buck, Troy Aikman and Salters for multiple weeks throughout the season.
In January 2024, Rutledge was on the sidelines for ESPN’s first NFL Divisional Round playoff game and then again in January 2025 for Texans-Chiefs in the same round, ESPN’s most-viewed NFL game ever (33.8 million viewers). She made her NFL debut in 2018.
On the college side, Rutledge will continue to be part of the broadcast team for one College Football Playoff Semifinal each year, an assignment she began seven seasons ago. In the regular season, she will continue to help amplify highly anticipated matchups, often joining Holly Rowe, as she did for several SEC on ABC showdowns, as well as this season’s SEC Championship. Rutledge began her ESPN career as a sideline reporter for SEC Network.
Rutledge has a broadcasting journalism degree from the University of Florida, where she also won the 2011 Red Barber Award for Excellence in Broadcasting at UF. Rutledge is an Ambassador for the Miracle League, an organization that builds baseball fields for children with disabilities.
Prior to joining ESPN, Rutledge was a sports anchor for CNN’s New Day and Early Start. She also worked on HLN’s Morning Express with Robin Meade, as well as at Fox Sports.
Rutledge currently resides in Connecticut with her husband Josh Rutledge, a former MLB player who is the owner of West Alabama Ford in Sulligent, AL. They have two children: Reese and Jack.