FOX Sports will no longer have the services of NFL sideline reporter Laura Okmin. According to Front Office Sports, Okmin has decided to walk away from her role covering the NFL for FOX after being offered a new contract to continue with the network.
Okmin told Front Office Sports that the decision was entirely hers, which ultimately came as a surprise to her management team at FOX when she informed them.
“They sent me the contract. I printed it out. I sat there. It was just my voice saying, ‘It’s time, this is it,’” said Okmin. “I called my boss and my friend Jacob Ullman, who I’ve known as long as I’ve been at Fox Sports. I’m happy to say he was very surprised. I would have been very disappointed if there was any other reaction.”
For nearly a quarter of a century, Okmin has been a fixture in FOX Sports’ coverage of the National Football League. Although she is stepping away from FOX Sports, her plan is to continue working in football, specifically by contributing to NFL postseason and Super Bowl coverage for Westwood One’s radio broadcasts.
She originally joined FOX Sports in 2002, serving as both a host and reporter for the network. In addition, she was a host for the company’s digital coverage of the 2012 and 2014 Olympic Games.
Looking ahead, Okmin acknowledged that while she will miss certain aspects of the role at FOX, there are other parts she will not—particularly the persistent criticism that comes with being a female sideline reporter.
“It’s a tough job having to justify your job for 20 years,” said Okmin to Front Office Sports. “Having to fight for your job and having to justify it. It feels like there’s a bit of dog years with that job.”
Now, Okmin will be able to devote more of her energy to her company GALvanize, a mentoring program designed for aspiring women broadcasters. According to the company’s website, GALvanize provides media training for NFL rookies, pro coaches, the gold medal-winning USA Women’s Hockey Team, WNBA squads, and others seeking to develop the skills and confidence to deliver impactful messages.
Currently, the company is conducting a summer boot camp tour in partnership with several high-profile organizations, including the Jacksonville Jaguars, Dallas Cowboys, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Atlanta Falcons, Los Angeles Chargers, and Texas Tech football.
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