ESPN's Laura Rutledge gets major Monday Night Football promotion in sideline shakeup

NFL sideline reporter Laura Rutledge is getting an increased role on ESPN after the network announced a sideline shakeup.
ESPN broadcasters Laura Rutledge and Ryan Clark during the 2025 Pro Bowl Games at Camping World Stadium.
ESPN broadcasters Laura Rutledge and Ryan Clark during the 2025 Pro Bowl Games at Camping World Stadium. / Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
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ESPN announced a little sideline shuffle to its broadcasts ahead of the 2025-26 NFL regular season, including an increased role for Laura Rutledge.

Rutledge will join the Monday Night Football crew for all broadcasts along Lisa Salters, while ESPN is adding Katie George and Peter Schrager to its coverage for crossover games.

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Salters and Rutledge join Joe Buck and Troy Aikman every week, while George and Schrager join Chris Fowler, Dan Orlovsky, and Louis Riddick for five games in Weeks 2, 4, 6, 7, and 18.

Rutledge is the host of NFL Live and a reporter for SEC on ABC. The two-time Emmy recipient's new role will include 20 games this season: 18 regular-season games and ESPN's Wild Card and Divisional playoff games.

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Monday Night Football will kick off its 2025 schedule on Monday, September 8, with an NFC North showdown between the Minnesota Vikings and Chicago Bears at Soldier Field.

Week 2 will bring us the first Monday Night Football doubleheader of the year, with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Houston Texans kicking off the action and the Las Vegas Raiders hosting the Los Angeles Chargers in the nightcap.

ESPN sideline reporter Laura Rutledge during an NFL International Series game between the Atlanta Falcons and the Jacksonvill
ESPN sideline reporter Laura Rutledge during an NFL International Series game between the Atlanta Falcons and the Jacksonville Jaguars / Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

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