23 August 2023 , 16:43
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ESPN has announced that they are showing more games than ever during the upcoming 2023-24 NFL season as part of a new rights agreement with the league.
The increased coverage comes despite a dozen analysts and host Suzy Kolber losing their jobs earlier this summer as part of company layoffs. Keyshawn Johnson, Matt Hasselbeck, Rob Ninkovich, Steve Young and Todd McShay no longer work for the network.
Another change will see Chris Fowler call five NFL games during the season after signing a new multi-year contract to remain at the company. As ESPN 's marquee event play-by-play commentator, the college football and tennis veteran will be in the booth alongside Dan Orlovsky and Louis Riddick, with Laura Rutledge as the sideline reporter.
Joe Buck and Troy Aikman, with Lisa Salters, will continue to call Monday Night Football. However, Mondays will have more games than ever this season.
That is because for the two of the first three weeks of the season - and one further Monday in December - they will show NFL games that overlap each other. An hour after the New Orleans Saints at the Carolina Panthers starts Week 2, the Cleveland Browns at the Pittsburgh Steelers will get underway.
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The same scenario will play out in Week 3 when the Philadelphia Eagles at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers overlaps with the Los Angeles Rams at the Cincinnati Bengals. ESPN will also air multiple games on back-to-back days in Week 4.
A day after airing the Atlanta Falcons against the Jacksonville Jaguars from Wembley Stadium on Sunday, the Seattle Seahawks at the New York Giants will follow on Monday Night Football . In total, the network will show 25 games, which is almost 40% more than a year ago.
Fowler will be a familiar face for college football followersAside from the additional games, adding Fowler for a fifth of their games is the most significant change to the coverage. He joined the company in 1986 and will continue to cover tennis Grand Slams and the college football season alongside a quintet of NFL games.
He spoke to The Athletic in advance of the announcement. “You look for new challenges and new reasons to kind of stay energised,” said Fowler.
“I am grateful to do my two favorite sports in college football and tennis, and the NFL is football at the highest level. I’ve been an NFL fan for a long time.
"To work with Dan Orlovsky and Louis Riddick and this production team is very cool for me. It’s challenging, but being a little bit uncomfortable, being put in a situation that’s new or different, creates growth and a need for improvement."
The commentator has previously called two NFL games over the last three years. He called the Steelers at the Giants in Week One of the 2020 season, which Pittsburgh won 26-16, before working on the Kansas City Chiefs beating the Denver Broncos 28-24 two years later.
Fans can watch the NFL season on NFL Pass.