ESPN Announces Massive Shake-Up To Their NFL Sideline Reporting Roles For 2026 Season — Peter Schrager, Molly McGrath & Others Affected

This article was originally published on Total Pro Sports.

ESPN is making changes to its NFL sideline reporter assignments for the 2026 season. The network confirmed shifts involving several familiar faces.

Katie George and Peter Schrager will not return in their previous roles. They had served as sideline reporters for ESPN’s secondary NFL broadcast team last year.

Molly McGrath steps into a larger position on the NFL side. She becomes the primary sideline reporter for the package of games that came with the NFL Network acquisition.

McGrath will also serve as the top fill-in host for Laura Rutledge on NFL Live. The move expands her presence across ESPN’s growing NFL coverage.

ESPN Expands McGrath’s Role in NFL Coverage

McGrath previously focused on college football. She worked alongside Sean McDonough and Greg McElroy on major games. She earned praise for sharp postgame interviews and on-field reporting. Now she shifts fully into the NFL beat.

McGrath expressed excitement about the opportunity. She called it a chance to showcase more skills and dive deeper into the sport.

The timing aligns with ESPN’s expanded slate. The network gained additional games through the NFL Network deal.

Dave Pasch is expected to handle play-by-play for those contests. The color analyst role remains unsettled for now.

What the ESPN Sideline Moves Mean Going Forward

Lisa Salters continues as a lead sideline reporter on Monday Night Football. Laura Rutledge remains a key part of that package as well.

Joe Buck and Troy Aikman stay in the primary booth. Their crew anchors the flagship Monday night telecasts.

Schrager may still appear occasionally. Doubleheader weeks could create limited opportunities for him on the sideline.

George could return to a larger college football role. Reports suggest she may fill the vacancy left by McGrath’s departure from that beat.

These adjustments reflect ESPN’s broader effort to integrate the new game package. The network continues refining its talent assignments ahead of the season.

The changes also position McGrath for potential Super Bowl involvement. ESPN prepares to air its first Super Bowl in February 2027.