ESPN's Rich Eisen Honors Stuart Scott on His Return to SportsCenter, Leaving Me Emotional housed
ESPN is making significant strides to uphold its tagline as the "Worldwide Leader in Sports." One of the key moves in this direction is the return of Rich Eisen to the network, after a 22-year absence.
Eisen, who previously co-hosted SportsCenter with the late Stuart Scott, will be making a comeback to the popular sports news programme, but not as a full-time anchor. Instead, he will host "periodic special editions" of SportsCenter, a move that drew 708,000 viewers on his return broadcast on August 18, 2025, 67% above the timeslot average, signaling strong audience interest. Future SportsCenter appearances will be occasional but notable.
Beyond SportsCenter, Eisen is expected to appear selectively across ESPN’s studio shows. This move is strategic, leveraging ESPN’s recent acquisition of the NFL Network, which enables talent crossovers and brand alignment. This also supports ESPN’s direct-to-consumer and streaming strategies.
The Rich Eisen Show, a popular weekday talk show, is also making a move. It will be exclusive to ESPN+ and Disney+, starting September 2, 2025. The show will also air on ESPN Radio, extending Eisen's reach within ESPN’s ecosystem.
Eisen will maintain his longstanding role as the lead NFL Network anchor alongside these new ESPN commitments. His return symbolizes ESPN’s strategy to blend legacy talent with new digital initiatives and streaming-first focus.
Stuart Scott, a former co-host of Rich Eisen, continued to host SportsCenter until his death in 2015. During his tribute to Scott, Eisen addressed the elephant in the room and spoke from the heart about missing his friend. The absence of Scott's words and phrases on SportsCenter is felt, and future episodes may generate emotional moments.
The acquisition of the NFL Network also includes the rights to the NFL RedZone channel. ESPN will be home to all future WWE Premium Live Events starting in 2026. This agreement and the addition of Eisen to its roster are part of ESPN's ongoing efforts to strengthen its position as the world leader in sports.
In memory of Stuart Scott and Kobe Bryant, who were both featured in commercials together, Eisen's return to ESPN is a significant step forward in the network's mission to provide top-tier sports content to its audience.
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