You know that feeling when something just clicks? That’s exactly what happened when ESPN finally made it official: The Rich Eisen Show is coming home. Yep, Rich Eisen, the guy who once ruled late-night SportsCenter slots next to Stuart Scott, is now rejoining ESPN after two decades—only this time, he’s not just clocking in. He’s partnering up.
Back in the late ’90s, Eisen was 26 and delivering top-tier highlights at 2 a.m., re-airing across 100 million homes each morning. It was ESPN’s golden era, and Eisen wasn’t just a part of it—he was helping define it. In his words, it was the “monster beginning” he needed. It gave him more than just a platform; it gave him a family. He met his wife Suzy Shuster in the newsroom, and still jokes that their three kids are “ESPN babies.”
And yet, even years later, the idea of returning to ESPN never left him. As he once said, “I was ready to… but I had no idea why it didn’t happen.” Well, now it has. The show will stream weekdays from noon to 3 p.m. ET this fall, exclusively on ESPN+ and Disney+. The deal coincides with ESPN’s bold new streaming push, pricing the bundle at $29.99 per month and rebranding ESPN+ as ESPN Select.
It’s ESPN’s most aggressive direct-to-consumer move yet—and Rich Eisen is right in the middle of it. Oh, and he’s not just streaming. He’ll also pop up across ESPN studio programming, bringing that same sharp mix of humor, analysis, and Michigan Man swagger.
Disney, the $196.6 billion parent company of ESPN, clearly sees value in Eisen’s brand. And let’s not act surprised. The guy’s been hosting NFL GameDay, anchoring Super Bowl coverage, and helping raise $8 million for St. Jude with “Run Rich Run.” When Burke Magnus calls him “an ESPN icon,” he’s not just being nice. Eisen brings credibility, humor, and a loyal audience. Plus Tom Brady, Larry David, and Patrick Mahomes all show up on his couch.
Eisen summed it up best: “To say this has been a long time coming is an understatement.” This isn’t just a nostalgic reunion—it’s a strategic power move. ESPN is getting a trusted voice, a built-in fanbase, and a partner who’s been in the game long enough to know when it’s time to call an audible. Rich Eisen’s back where it all started, but he’s not just picking up where he left off. He’s leveling up, again.
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