Taylor Twellman has announced he will depart ESPN after a 13 year stint with the company.
The 42-year-old joined ESPN after a storied MLS career with the New England Revolution that saw him score more goals than any other player in the league during his tenure.
“I have learned from the best and enjoyed every second of our soccer coverage: World Cup, UEFA, MLS, US Soccer, FA, Cups, Open Cups, you name it,” Twellman tweeted. “Hosting @SportsCenter and other programs as a former pro athlete has been a dream come true. The constructive criticism was vital and so important. I’ve met so many people that are great at their craft in front and behind the camera. However, the best part is I’ve met friends for life and for that I’m grateful. We will see each other again down the road but for now, thank you.”
Twellman contributed to ESPN studio shows like Get Up and SportsNation in addition to his work as the network’s lead soccer analyst. His work as the lead game analyst during the 2014 World Cup in Brazil received acclaim, as did his analysis after the United States failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia. He did not cover the 2022 World Cup from Qatar, noting that Disney Security advised him against travelling to the nation due to its record on human rights.
Comments made in 2021 surrounding the collapse of Danish midfielder Christian Eriksen brought shouts of criticism towards Twellman. After Eriksen collapsed, Twellman asserted — correctly — that his collapse was due to a cardiac event. Many observers were critical of Twellman’s speculation about the event, and were angered by his criticism of medical personnel’s lackadaisical approach to the situation. He defended himself from those critics by pointing out urgency is one of the biggest factors in preventing further damage during a cardiac arrest.
