ESPN Makes Major Decision On Molly McGrath
This article was originally published on Total Pro Sports.
Molly McGrath is leaving college football behind. The popular ESPN sideline reporter will join the network’s NFL coverage starting in 2026.
Front Office Sports first reported the move. ESPN confirmed it. McGrath will serve as the sideline reporter for NFL Network’s game coverage. Those contests arrived after Disney acquired NFL Network earlier this year.
She also becomes the top fill-in host for NFL Live. She steps in whenever Laura Rutledge cannot appear. Dave Pasch is expected to handle play-by-play for the seven regular-season NFL Network games. A color analyst has not been named yet.
Molly McGrath Calls the Move a Lifelong Dream
McGrath shared her excitement in a statement.
“I’m thrilled to expand my role within ESPN’s NFL coverage and for the opportunity to showcase a broader range of skills, from sideline reporting to hosting in studio, while diving deeper into the sport at the highest level,” she said.
She added that joining during ESPN’s Year of the Super Bowl makes the moment special.
“It fulfills a lifelong dream,” she said. “I’m grateful to ESPN for this opportunity and excited to bring the same preparation, passion, and commitment that have guided my work in college football to our NFL audience.”
McGrath started at ESPN as a production assistant after graduating from Boston College. She returned in 2016 as a sideline reporter and host for college football and basketball. For the past three seasons, she worked on the lead broadcast team with Sean McDonough and Greg McElroy.
Fans know her well from those years. Many followed her college football coverage closely. She also drew attention during her Miami campus tour ahead of the national championship.
What Molly McGrath’s Move Means for ESPN
The timing fits ESPN’s growing NFL footprint. The network will air its first Super Bowl in 2027. McGrath’s shift gives her a bigger stage at the professional level.
College football viewers will miss her presence on Saturdays. She became one of ESPN’s most recognizable faces on the sidelines. Her preparation and energy stood out during big games.
She now gets the chance to report from NFL stadiums and host in-studio. The new duties let her show more range. NFL Network games and NFL Live appearances expand her visibility across the week.
The change marks a clear next chapter. After a decade focused on college football, she steps into the league she long targeted. ESPN gains a proven talent for its expanding NFL package.
Her story shows how sideline reporters can grow inside a major network. From production assistant to lead college roles and now the NFL, the path stayed steady. ESPN continues to promote familiar faces into larger opportunities.
Expect McGrath on the sidelines for those NFL Network games this fall. She will also appear more often on NFL Live. The lifelong dream is now her full-time job.
