Mina Kimes, who recently agreed to a new contract with ESPN, begins her maternity leave on Tuesday as she prepares to welcome a newborn into the world. The beloved National Football League commentator received a sendoff on Monday’s edition of NFL Live in the form of a montage featuring her colleagues Laura Rutledge, Dan Orlovsky, Marcus Spears, Field Yates and Ryan Clark. This video was filled with messages of encouragement and inspiration for Kimes, who began to visibly tear up at the end as she prepares for her new journey.
Kimes shared a recording of the montage on X, formerly known as Twitter, with a caption conveying the love she has for her television family. She looks forward to seeing them soon when she returns from her maternity leave. Rutledge went on maternity leave herself earlier this year and was surprised with a farewell message prior to her exit.
The news of Kimes’ pregnancy was formally shared through social media where she revealed that she brought a “date” with her to the ESPY Awards in Los Angeles, Calif. Those on social media noticed a baby bump, eliciting congratulatory comments filled with excitement and euphoria.
Kimes first joined ESPN in 2014 to contribute to its magazine after time as a business writer and investigative reporter. The Yale University graduate became more involved with television and digital efforts through her years at the company and was officially named as an NFL analyst in 2020. She regularly appears on Get Up, First Take, Around the Horn and SportsCenter in addition to her regular slot on NFL Live. Kimes also has experience on audio platforms as the former co-host of The Morning Roast national weekend show on ESPN Radio. Kimes also contributes to Meadowlark Media by appearing on The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz once per week.
