Earlier this month a story came out that said ESPN was content to move Booger McFarland off the sidelines and return to a traditional two-man booth for Monday Night Football in 2019. That story might be true only if the World Wide Leader cannot lure one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history to the team.
According to the The Hollywood Reporter, ESPN has not given up on trying to hire Peyton Manning. Marisa Guthrie reports that “ESPN president Jimmy Pitaro and content chief Connor Schell made a trip to Denver on March 11 to meet with Manning, who has been mentioned before for a broadcast role.”
Manning already has a working relationship with ESPN. He hosts the football edition of Detail on ESPN+, which sees him breaking down film of quarterbacks each week during the NFL season.
It is unknown how seriously either side is taking the prospect of Peyton Manning in the Monday Night Football booth. Clearly ESPN would love to have him in their family, but if the network wants to return to a three-man MNF booth, it will have to move on as soon as it is clear Manning isn’t going to sign a deal so that it can find the best possible man to fill Witten’s chair.
