NFL Network’s integration into ESPN has continued in recent weeks as several of the former’s talents have appeared on the latter’s airwaves.
When Disney acquired NFL Network for a 10% in return stake in ESPN, there were questions about how the two cable channels would coexist. Four months after the deal first went into effect, it is now apparent that ESPN plans to utilize NFL Network talent in a variety of ways.
On Monday morning, Kyle Brandt appeared on Get Up. Brandt is the last remaining original cohost of Good Morning Football, which has gone head-to-head against Mike Greenberg’s morning show for the past decade. Sources told Front Office Sports that Brandt is expected to join a number of ESPN studio shows as the calendar turns towards football season. One source expects Brandt to have a recurring weekly presence on Get Up.
An ESPN spokesperson declined to comment.
Last week, one of NFL Network’s top league insiders, Tom Pelissero, was on Get Up. Pelissero—who co-hosts The Insiders with Ian Rapoport, Mike Garafolo, and Judy Battista—is considered by many in the industry to be the top newsbreaker in the tier after Rapoport and Adam Schefter. Rapoport had his ESPN debut on NFL Live in May and later appeared alongside his longtime rival, Schefter, during Pat McAfee’s “Primetime State of Sports” special. (Rapoport has for years been a regular guest of McAfee’s.)
