Photos of Kolber/Wingo via ESPN Images
Kolber Named Full-Time On-Site Host of Monday Night Countdown, Wingo Adds New NFL Insiders: Sunday Edition
Suzy Kolber and Trey Wingo, two of ESPN’s veteran NFL hosts and most recognizable faces, have reached new long-term extensions to remain with the company. During the upcoming NFL season, both will expand their roles as part of their new deals.
Kolber, who joined ESPN in 1993, has been a sideline reporter on Sunday Night Football and Monday Night Football, as well as a studio host. This season, she becomes the new full-time host of ESPN’s Monday Night Countdown pregame show. The past year and a half, Kolber covered a majority of the games as her close friend and colleague Stuart Scott courageously battled cancer. Kolber will travel to the site of each week’s MNF game where she will appear alongside Trent Dilfer, Ray Lewis and Steve Young.
Kolber will continue to host weekday editions of ESPN’s NFL Insiders, the daily pro football show featuring veteran reporters and league insiders, including Adam Schefter, Chris Mortensen and Bill Polian. She will also continue to be part of ESPN’s annual NFL Draft and Super Bowl week coverage.
“ESPN has felt like family since I joined the company in 1993 so I am thrilled to continue my career here,” said Kolber. “We will have Stuart in our hearts as we go forward, striving – as always – to raise the bar on how we educate and entertain our NFL audience.”
Wingo, who joined ESPN in 1997, has been the face of NFL Live since it debuted in July 2003. He will continue to host the popular weekday afternoon news and information show, as well as the NFL PrimeTime highlights show on Mondays. A host on ESPN’s annual NFL Draft telecast and Super Bowl week shows – including conducting SportsCenter’s postgame interview with the Super Bowl MVP, Wingo will expand his role to include a new Sunday morning pregame show.
This fall, ESPN is adding NFL Insiders: Sunday edition (10 a.m. ET) to its Sunday pro football lineup. Beginning September 13, Wingo will host the new one-hour show alongside Schefter, Mortensen and NFL Front Office Insider Louis Riddick. The program will have all the latest information on NFL game days and will lead into Sunday NFL Countdown.
“I’m delighted to be able to continue to build on the success we’ve had with NFL Live over the last 13 years,” said Wingo. “I’m extremely proud of the show’s success and what it’s become – the go-to place for daily news and analysis, and a little fun, on the NFL.”
He added: “I’m also really looking forward to the new challenge of the Sunday morning show and working with Louis Riddick. I knew as soon he got here he was going to be a star, and he showed it at the draft. We’ll make the show as fast-paced and entertaining as possible.”
“Suzy and Trey have helped shape our daily presentation of NFL news and information as much as anyone, so it is particularly exciting to see them expand into even bigger roles with ESPN this season and in the years ahead,” added Seth Markman, senior coordinating producer, NFL studio shows. “Not only do they bring out the best in our analysts and insiders, they are highly respected in NFL circles and trusted by our viewers.”
ESPN Adds NFL Insiders; Sunday Edition, Shifts Sunday NFL Countdown to Two Hours This Fall
With the addition of NFL Insiders: Sunday Edition (10 a.m. ET), ESPN’s Sunday NFL Countdown will shift back to a two-hour format, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. ET, beginning in September. Entering its 30th season this fall as ESPN’s signature NFL pregame show, Countdown has been three hours since 2011.
Hosted by Chris Berman with analysts Cris Carter, Mike Ditka, Tom Jackson and Keyshawn Johnson, Countdown will feature a more fast-paced, whip-around format leading up to kickoff of the 1 p.m. NFL games each week, while continuing to cover all 32 teams with analysis, discussion and predictions. Also new for this fall: fantasy football expert Matthew Berry will be more ingrained in the show as part of the new Countdown.
“NFL Insiders has quickly emerged as one of our most popular studio shows so it’s only natural to make it a part of our Sunday lineup,” said Seth Markman, senior coordinating producer, NFL shows. “At the same time, we believe we have the opportunity to strengthen our presentation on Sunday NFL Countdown by making it a more fast-paced pre-game show with a new two-hour format. Fans will see a very different version of the show this fall and we are excited about the changes.”
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