NFL Network’s Rich Eisen is returning to ESPN’s SportsCenter, headlining what has been called “periodic special editions” of the network’s flagship show this fall, according to a report in Front Office Sports. The news follows Eisen’s highly praised comeback appearance Monday night on the program.
Eisen, who last anchored SportsCenter in 2003, drew 708,000 viewers for his recent 11 p.m. ET broadcast—67% higher than the average for that timeslot and slightly surpassing the 670,000 viewers his final SportsCenter drew 22 years ago.
An ESPN spokesperson confirmed that the network plans to utilize Eisen for select future episodes to Front Office Sports.
The 56-year-old anchor first rose to prominence at SportsCenter from 1996 to 2003, earning a reputation for his quick wit alongside colleagues Dan Patrick and Craig Kilborn. He later became the face of the newly launched NFL Network, where he continues to serve as lead anchor. Eisen was the first employee hired by the NFL Network in 2003.
Eisen will maintain that role while making occasional appearances across ESPN’s studio programming, including the upcoming debut of The Rich Eisen Show on ESPN+, Disney+, and ESPN Radio beginning Sept. 2.
ESPN incorporated throwback horns, music, and graphics reminiscent of the show’s 1990s heyday in Eisen’s return on Monday night. He was joined in-studio by NFL analyst Mina Kimes and delivered a tribute to former SportsCenter anchor Stuart Scott, who passed away in 2015 after a battle with cancer.
“That was pretty cool. I woke up to a bushel of text messages and emails,” said ESPN President of Content Burke Magnus, reflecting on the acclaim following Eisen’s broadcast during a press conference previewing ESPN’s new direct-to-consumer product launching tomorrow.
Eisen’s upcoming appearances are also tied to ESPN’s broader corporate strategy, including its acquisition of NFL Network and the RedZone channel, pending regulatory approval which isn’t fully expected till late 2026.
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