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Time of India
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
How Erin Andrews and Charissa Thompson remain unbiased despite close ties with top NFL players
How Erin Andrews and Charissa Thompson navigate NFL friendships without crossing journalistic lines (Instagram) Some stories in sports broadcasting go beyond stats and sidelines — they're about the people behind the mic and the bonds they form along the way. For Erin Andrews and Charissa Thompson, covering the NFL isn't just a job. It's a lifelong passion wrapped in genuine friendships, unforgettable moments, and the occasional fangirl reaction. In a candid chat on their Calm Down podcast, the Fox Sports veterans opened up about the delicate, often hilarious balance of staying professional while cheering on the very athletes they've grown close to over the years. Erin Andrews and Charissa Thompson on covering NFL's biggest names It's rare to hear seasoned broadcasters admit they still get starstruck, but Andrews and Thompson wear their enthusiasm proudly. 'I don't,' Andrews said when asked how she maintains composure around NFL icons. 'I'm a huge fan of all the guys I cover and I get so excited to talk to them.' Her co-host, Thompson, echoed the sentiment, recalling a thrilling comeback by Baker Mayfield. 'That was probably not professional, but I didn't care, that was f—king awesome,' she laughed. What it was like meeting Taylor Swift | Calm Down Podcast Their excitement doesn't come from a lack of experience. Andrews has been with Fox since 2012 and has covered multiple Super Bowls, including Super Bowl 2025. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like New Container Houses Indonesia (Prices May Surprise You) Container House | Search ads Search Now Thompson leads Fox NFL Kickoff and co-hosts Thursday Night Football on Prime Video. Yet, even with such credentials, the spark of fandom remains — not as a weakness, but as a reflection of their love for the sport and its athletes. They have built some real relationship, real moments over the years The personal connections Andrews and Thompson have built over the years — with stars like Aaron Rodgers, Patrick Mahomes , and Travis Kelce — are not just professional relationships. They've been nurtured through mutual trust, time, and authenticity. 'It's taken us a minute to get where we are,' Andrews explained. 'You have to build up credibility… with not only viewers at home, your bosses and also, the players and the coaches.' That credibility has extended beyond the sideline. This past offseason, Andrews and Thompson vacationed with Kelce and his girlfriend, Taylor Swift — a couple whose relationship they famously supported from the start. 'They want to see you having a good time and smiling,' Andrews shared, reflecting on Fox's culture that encourages authenticity. 'There is nothing wrong with sitting on the [show] desk with Baker after an amazing game... and be like, 'Can we just talk about this last play?' It's awesome.' Their unique blend of enthusiasm and professionalism has earned them trust in both locker rooms and living rooms. With reported contract extensions on the horizon, it's clear their approach — candid, joyful, and human — is a winning formula in today's sports media. Also Read: 'I feel guilty': Christian McCaffrey can't stop admiring Olivia Culpo's strength in emotional message after baby's arrival Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
New York Post
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Post
How Erin Andrews, Charissa Thompson balance work and real-life relationships with NFL's biggest stars
Fox Sports personalities Erin Andrews and Charissa Thompson lifted the lid on their close bond with the NFL's biggest stars following their offseason vacation with Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce and his girlfriend, Taylor Swift. During a fan Q&A on the latest installment of their 'Calm Down' podcast, Andrews and Thompson didn't hold back when asked how they balance being professional and having 'fan energy' while interviewing the league's megastars. 'I don't,' said Andrews, 47, who is Fox's lead sideline reporter and covered Super Bowl 2025 in February. 'I'm a huge fan of all the guys I cover and I get so excited to talk to them.' 7 Charissa Thompson and Erin Andrews covering Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans, as the 2025 game was aired on Fox on February 9. Instagram/Charissa Thompson Thompson, who hosts the 'Fox NFL Kickoff' show and 'Thursday Night Football' on Prime Video, agreed with Andrews. 'I still get really excited for whoever it is,' Thompson, 43, said. 'I remember [Buccaneers quarterback] Baker Mayfield has this crazy, crazy comeback and I totally turned into a fan and that was probably not professional, but I didn't care, that was f–king awesome. I'm a sports fan and dramatic finishes, and no matter who it is — next week, it could be the opposite in terms of who I'm rooting for. 'I like to watch good football and if something good happens for guys we root for and care about, then yeah, I don't care… There is a time and a place, but then you also still need to have the balance of professional cadence.' 7 CeeDee Lamb #88 of the Dallas Cowboys and Dak Prescott #4 of the Dallas Cowboys are interviewed by Erin Andrews after the game against the New York Giants at AT&T Stadium on November 12, 2023 in Arlington, Texas. Getty Images 7 Amazon Prime Video Thursday Night Football host Charissa Thompson on set during halftime between the Chiefs and the Raiders at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on November 29, 2024 in Kansas City, Missouri. Getty Images Andrews, who joined Fox in 2012 after a stint with ESPN, went on to explain that building relationships with the players comes with experience. 'Listen, it's taken us a minute to get where we are,' said Andrews, who is married to retired two-time Stanley Cup champion Jarret Stoll. 'You have to build up credibility… with not only with viewers at home, your bosses and also, the players and the coaches. You can't go into things when you first start with any job like, 'Oh my god!' People will look at you and be like,' You're an a–hole.' 7 (L-R) Charissa Thompson, Tony Gonzalez, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Andrew Whitworth, Richard Sherman on set of the TNF on Prime postgame show after a Seahawks-Bears game at Soldier Field on December 26, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. Getty Images 7 Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes alongside Fox Sports sideline reporter Erin Andrews following a game against the Chicago Bears Sunday, Sept. 24, 2023, in Kansas City, Mo. AP 'But I think of certain times that I've interviewed Patrick [Mahomes] or I've interviewed Aaron [Rodgers] after big games or anybody really… I love this about Fox so much, I remember when I first got to Fox, somebody said, 'They want to see you having a good time and smiling.' And it's so true. '… There is nothing wrong with sitting on the [show] desk with Baker after an amazing game or any of these guys and be like, 'Can we just talk about this last play?' It's awesome.' Front Office Sports reported last month that Andrews and Thompson, whose respective contracts expired after the 2024-25 season, will receive lucrative extensions before the start of the next NFL campaign. 7 (L-R) Kylie Kelce, Erin Andrews, Charissa Thompson ,Travis kelce, Jarret Stoll and Steven Cundari at Taylor Swift's concert at Wembley Stadium in London in June 2024. Instagram Andrews and Thompson are open about their friendships with athletes, including Rodgers, who signed a one-year deal with the Steelers in June, as well as Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford and his wife, Kelly Stafford. Last month, Kelce posted Instagram photos from his and Swift's offseason getaway with Andrews, Stoll, Thompson and her longtime boyfriend, Steven Cundari. 7 Travis Kelce, Taylor Swift, Charissa Thompson, Steven Cundari, Jarret Stoll and Erina Andrews during an offseason getaway before the 2025 NFL campaign. Instagram/Travis Kelce Page Six reported in March that Kelce and Swift dined with Andrews during a secret getaway to Montana. Andrews and Thompson shipped a romance between Kelce and Swift, both 35, before the couple got together in the summer of 2023. During a previous episode of their 'Calm Down podcast, Andrews and Thompson publicly encouraged Swift to give the three-time Super Bowl winner a chance after he failed to pass along a friendship bracelet at a July 2023 Eras Tour show with his telephone number on it. Swift attended her first Chiefs game in September 2023 before stepping out publicly with Kelce a month later.
Time of India
09-07-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Erin Andrews and Charissa Thompson just shut down exit rumors with big FOX contract extensions
Charissa Thompson and Erin Andrews Officially Staying With FOX. (Image via Imago) If you're a fan of NFL Sundays on FOX, breathe easy, Charissa Thompson and Erin Andrews aren't going anywhere. Just as some folks were wondering if the iconic duo might be heading out after some offseason whispers, FOX Sports hit the brakes on that panic and came through with a power move: contract extensions for both. So yes, football's favorite sideline boss and kickoff queen are back for another season and the vibes are immaculate. FOX re-signs Erin Andrews and Charissa Thompson ahead of the 2025 NFL season Ahead of the upcoming NFL season, FOX Sports confirmed it has extended the contracts of both Erin Andrews and Charissa Thompson, two of the network's most recognizable on-air talents. And if you thought Thompson was leaving? She shut that down herself . 'No, I'm not leaving FOX. I was never leaving FOX,' she told Front Office Sports , laughing off the speculation that had started swirling online. (Phew.) Andrews, of course, will continue her top-tier role on FOX's A-team broadcast crew, reporting from the sidelines alongside play-by-play announcer Kevin Burkhardt and none other than Tom Brady. Meanwhile, Thompson will keep bringing the energy on Fox NFL Kickoff , setting the tone for your entire football Sunday. Amid other big shakeups, FOX makes sure its NFL coverage stays strong where it counts This move comes at a key moment for the network. With longtime analyst Jimmy Johnson officially stepping away after two decades, locking in Andrews and Thompson adds much-needed stability to FOX's NFL coverage. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo Erin Andrews has been a mainstay on NFL sidelines for years, but her star power only continues to rise especially now that she's part of the all-new Burkhardt-Brady broadcast trio. And Charissa? She's the one warming up the crowd every Sunday with Kickoff , keeping the tone fun, fast, and football-obsessed before the big games begin. Together, they help define FOX's NFL identity. So these extensions aren't just feel-good deals, they're smart business. Their podcast 'Calm Down' proves these two are more than just Sunday faces Beyond the cameras and sidelines, Andrews and Thompson have built something special together with their hit podcast Calm Down with Erin and Charissa . It's where they dish behind-the-scenes stories, NFL takes, and unfiltered life chats that keep fans locked in all week long. Whether it's Andrews talking about traveling with Tom Brady's new team or Thompson cracking up over fantasy football disasters, the pod is just more proof that their dynamic clicks both on and off the field. In a media world full of copy-paste coverage, these two are the real deal and fans know it. FOX doubled down on chemistry, experience, and pure star power The takeaway? FOX didn't just re-sign two NFL hosts, they doubled down on what makes their coverage work. With Erin Andrews and Charissa Thompson leading the charge, Sundays are in great hands. So while teams are finalizing rosters and quarterbacks are fine-tuning their throws, FOX already scored big by keeping its MVPs right where they belong. Also read - Cardi B and Stefon Diggs just shut down breakup rumors with a surprise workout video Catch Manika Batra's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 3. Watch Here!
Irish Daily Star
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Star
FOX Sports favorite forced to confirm she has not been fired amid contract uncertainty
Charissa Thompson has put to bed any doubts over her FOX Sports future by making it crystal clear that she will not be parting ways with the network this year. The popular sportscaster's future has been up in the air since the end of the 2024 NFL season, having confirmed back in February that her "contract's up" . Best friend and lead sideline reporter Erin Andrews had also found herself in the same predicament , having revealed back in September that her FOX Sports contract was up following the end of the most recent season. Neither Thompson or Andrews have announced new agreements with Fox Sports but the former has now indicated that she fully expects to be back with the network for the 2025 NFL season, where she has most recently been the host of Fox NFL Sunday's lead-in show, Fox NFL Kickoff. Speaking on a recent episode of the Calm Down podcast, which she co-hosts with Andrews , Thompson made the revelation as part of a new segment called "Is This Headline Real?". "No, I am not leaving Fox," she declared to listeners. "I was never leaving Fox. I don't know where this took on a life of its own." Thompson's comments came as a result of a recent family visit to her sprawling 75-acre California ranch, where at least four of them questioned how she would be able to afford the property now that she doesn't have a job, prompting her to finally quash the rumors about her leaving Fox . "I wouldn't normally address this because we all get fake headlines. But no, I'm not leaving Fox, I was never leaving Fox. I'm not fired... I hope I die at [Fox]," she said. "Fox is my longest relationship. I've been there since I was 22, starting out in HR. So yes, I adore Fox and plan to wrap up my career there far into the future. But for now, those are just bogus headlines." Thompson also has an ongoing gig with Amazon hosting its Thursday Night Football pre and postgame show on Prime Video. However, rumors over her Fox Sports future initially began to swirl when she let slip that her deal with the network finished after Super Bowl LIX . Charissa Thompson has insisted that she will not be leaving Fox Sports this year "I just have to say one thing. And this is also what I am going on and on about Fox, and I swear, I mean it's not just because my contract's up, I love Fox so much," she said on an episode of the "Sit Down" podcast in February. As for Andrews, she is yet to provide any clarity surrounding her situation but her previous comments on the retirement of Fox Sports star Jimmy Johnson suggested that she might just be about to stay put with the network. When praising her former colleague for his stellar career, Andrews speculated that he might "come back" to Fox "every now and then", suggesting that she will still be there when it happens. 'He's the best,' Andrews said on the "Calm Down" podcast in March . 'He makes everyone feel part of the team. He makes everyone feel like they belong. I'm so grateful for that…I adore him and it doesn't feel real. It won't really feel real until we kick off the season, but I love you coach, you're amazing. I have a feeling he'll come back every now and then.' Neither Thompson nor Andrews have confirmed new deals with Fox Sports but with both having expressed expectations of returning to the network for the next NFL season, it appears likely that an announcement regarding their futures is imminent, especially with the 2025 NFL season creeping ever closer.
New York Post
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Charissa Thompson addresses ‘fake headlines' about Fox Sports future: ‘I was never leaving'
Charissa Thompson said she's not leaving Fox anytime soon. During Thursday's installment of her 'Calm Down' podcast with Erin Andrews, the Fox Sports host addressed 'fake headlines' that claimed she was fired and said her family was concerned for her. 'This is a new segment I'm calling 'Is This Headline Real?',' Thompson, 42, quipped. 'No, I am not leaving Fox. I was never leaving Fox. I don't know where this took on a life, whereas I was hosting my family here at the ranch this past weekend, four of my family members asked, 'Well the place looks nice, but how are you going to afford it now that you don't have a job?' 3 Charissa Thompson addressed 'fake headlines'about her future with Fox Sports during her and Erin Andrews' 'Calm Down' podcast on April 24, 2025. X/Calm Down Podcast 'I'm like 'why is this headline out here?' It's crazy… I wouldn't normally address this… but I was never leaving Fox. I'm not fired… I hope I die at [Fox]. As I always talk about, Fox is my longest relationship. I have worked there since I was what, 22 years old starting in the HR department. So yes, I love Fox, I will hopefully end my career there in a long, long time. But anyways, it's not ending anytime soon. That's a fake headline.' Thompson didn't elaborate about the false report. Her contract with Fox expired after the 2024 NFL season. 3 Charissa Thompson at the Fox broadcast of Super Bowl LIX at Caesars Superdome on February 9, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Frank Micelotta/PictureGroup for FOX/Shutterstock Thompson did not say if she agreed to a new contract with the network. Thompson hosts the 'Fox NFL Kickoff' show, in addition to a number of NFL Films spots for Fox. She also hosts Amazon Prime Video's 'Thursday Night Football' pregame show. Andrews previously shared on their 'Calm Down' podcast that her contract was also up after this offseason. The pair often discuss how close they are with their Fox co-workers and how it is a family environment. 3 Erin Andrews during the Kansas City Chiefs-Philadelphia Eagles game at Super Bowl LIX at Caesars Superdome on February 9, 2025. Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images Thompson and Andrews, who are best friends outside of work, covered Super Bowl 2025, which aired on Fox on Feb. 9.
