When the NFL season ended and FOX wrapped its Super Bowl LIX coverage, there was one noticeable omission from the usual offseason headlines: Charissa Thompson. Her contract had expired. No announcement, no network statement, no official word on her future. For someone who had been with FOX since 2013—hosting NFL Kickoff, leading Thursday Night Football hits, and becoming one of the more consistent presences on the network—it was an unusually quiet exit. Or maybe it wasn’t an exit at all.
What we know: she’s no longer under contract. What’s less clear is whether she—or FOX—wants to change that. What Thompson has done is pivot. Hard. While her status at FOX hangs in limbo, she’s taken on a hosting role.
During a recent episode of the Calm Down podcast, Charissa casually dropped a bombshell. “I’ve been asked by Blue Origin, which I’m very excited about, to host their historic all-female space crew,” she revealed, sounding like someone just asked her to emcee a charity bake sale, not narrate a rocket launch. “I’ve been immersed in this for the last, like, almost two months now. And I’ve already learned so much.” Oh, and if you’re free on April 14th? You can watch it live at 7 a.m. CT on BlueOrigin.com. Charissa’s calling the shots pre-launch, and if you’re wondering whether she’d ever go to space herself—“Hell yeah, I would!” she said. That’s a yes with rocket fuel.
Let’s back up, though. Who is Blue Origin exactly? Jeff Bezos, the creator of Amazon and the man behind the scenes at Blue Origin. If you still think Elon Musk has a monopoly on space toys, think again. Founded in 2000, the company is now valued at around $50 billion. Their mission? Build a road to space so our kids can build the future. Blue Origin is making it happen, one reusable rocket at a time, even though it seems like something straight out of a science fiction trailer. They are launching more than simply astronauts; they are launching history.
Presenting the New Shepard Mission NS-31. The flight will be the 11th human mission in the New Shepard program and, more significantly, the first all-female crew since Valentina Tereshkova’s solo flight in 1963. It will take off on April 14 from Blue Origin’s Launch Site One in West Texas. It is indeed historic. And taking the lead in the coverage? Alongside co-hosts Ariane Cornell and Kristen Fisher is Charissa Thompson. Talk about leveling up from sideline hits to space lifts.
Now let’s talk crew. The women on this mission aren’t just astronauts—they’re icons. There’s Aisha Bowe, a former NASA aerospace engineer. Amanda Nguyen is a civil rights activist and Nobel Peace Prize nominee. Gayle King, journalism royalty. Katy Perry, of course, joins the mix as the pop queen gets involved. Kerianne Flynn is an indie film powerhouse. And Lauren Sánchez, pilot, journalist, and yes—Jeff Bezos’ fiancée. That launch isn’t just historic. It’s red-carpet worthy.
Speaking of women who are breaking new ground, Charissa Thompson is also causing a stir off the pitch. She’s turning up the volume in a whole new way, from her days at FOX Sports to hosting the hugely popular Calm Down podcast.
Charissa Thompson & Erin Andrews bring their husbands into the podcast game
Charissa Thompson’s media career is nothing short of legendary. She started off in the HR division of Fox Sports in 2006 and worked her way up to become the face of popular NFL broadcasts including Thursday Night Football and NFL Kickoff. “There’s not a Sunday that goes by that I don’t appreciate my second home,” Charissa wrote last year about FOX. Charissa didn’t just report the game; she redefined it. But now, she’s swapping the sideline mic for a more personal, chaotic, and, frankly, hilarious platform: her Calm Down podcast.
Alongside her longtime bestie and fellow sports media queen, Erin Andrews, Charissa’s podcast is the unfiltered backstage pass to their lives and careers—without the scripted soundbites. And now? It’s about to get even crazier. Charissa and Erin have officially brought their husbands—marketing mogul Steven Cundari and NHL legend Jarret Stoll—into the podcast mix, adding a whole new layer of chaos. As Charissa teased on Instagram, it’s like inviting Gronk to a tea party: “Unfiltered, real chaos.” If you thought Calm Down was wild before, wait till you hear this duo, plus their husbands, break it all down.
They’ve built their bond over 15 years of friendship, sideline stumbles, and shared experiences. From ESPN days to sideline mishaps, their podcast has always been a place for honest, unpolished conversations. But now, with their husbands in the mix, it’s an all-access pass into their lives—family drama, sports world anecdotes, and all the chaos in between.
So, while Charissa might be out here prepping for a literal space mission (hello, Blue Origin), she’s also making major moves in the podcast world. We still have to see if she will return to FOX. But she’s not waiting around. From locker rooms to launchpads, podcasts to payloads, Charissa Thompson’s playing a different game now. One where the stakes are higher, the mission’s historic, and the end zone? Somewhere above the clouds.
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