"We try our best to respect the game and showcase and display it in a fashion that might be a little bit more appetizing for a different group of people that are watching alongside the best play commentators on Earth."
"For Troy Aikman, it’s not about the money. It's about he gets to walk around with the bragging rights to say you [Dallas Cowboys] should have did this for me."
"Hosting a premiere show on ESPN of course was a goal of mine. But did I think that First Take would come available, and I’d be first in line? I didn’t know anything. It just sort of worked out that way."
"Over the course of his career, Barrie has earned 11 Emmy Awards along with three Edward R. Murrow Awards, underscoring both his versatility and credibility in the sports media space."
"The industry spends so much time chasing what’s next — new platforms, new angles, new metrics — that it sometimes forgets what worked. A well-timed throwback isn’t regression. It’s perspective."
"I really try to cover the whole league. Podcasting can be a complement to television. If you feel that your team nationally is not getting enough analysis, come listen to my show."
"ESPN’s alternative Monday Night Football presentation featuring Peyton and Eli Manning continued to solidify its place in sports media this past NFL season."
"We look forward to honoring the content that moved audiences in 2026 and continuing the Gracies’ long-standing investment in the people who will shape what comes next.”