MJ Acosta-Ruiz is joining ESPN in a new multifaceted role where she will work as a sideline reporter for ESPN Deportes’ Spanish-language coverage of Monday Night Football and editions of SportsCenter from Los Angeles, Calif. Acosta-Ruiz, who will make her debut as a sideline reporter for ESPN Deportes when it broadcasts the NFL preseason Hall of Fame game between the Chicago Bears and Houston Texans on Thursday, Aug. 1 at 8 p.m. EST, will also continue to fulfill her responsibilities at NFL Network. Furthermore, Acosta-Ruiz will anchor SportsCenter for the first time later in the month.
“We are delighted to add MJ to our team,” Oscar Ramos, vice president, digital, at ESPN Deportes, said in a statement. “Her impressive background, versatility, and career in sports journalism make her a valuable addition to ESPN. We look forward to her contributions to SportsCenter and our Spanish-language Monday Night Football coverage on ESPN Deportes.”
Acosta-Ruiz graduated with a degree in communications from Barry University and began her career working as a reporter for WPLG-TV in Miami, Fla. covering sports, entertainment and breaking news. Acosta-Ruiz then moved cross-country to San Diego where she worked for NBC 7 and Telemundo 20 covering the Chargers, Padres and international soccer as its lead sports anchor. She was honored as the recipient of a regional Emmy award in the category of “Best Newscast” while working on both networks.
Acosta-Ruiz joined NFL Network in 2018 and became the host of NFL Total Access two years later, a show that recently came to a conclusion as a part of programming changes during the offseason. Additionally, she worked with Barry University alumna and FOX Sports host Joy Taylor as the co-host and executive producer of Fuse Media’s Like a Girl series this summer. With ESPN, she will have responsibilities spanning multiple broadcast properties and languages, conveying the latest sports news and insights in an informative and entertaining manner.
“I am thrilled to be joining the ESPN family,” Acosta-Ruiz said in a statement. “Serving the sports community in both English and Spanish has been a mainstay throughout my career, and I am honored to continue doing so with such a highly regarded group who share my commitment to inclusivity and excellence.”
