ESPN’s No. 2 NFL booth will look different in 2026. Here’s why
ESPN is making changes to its NFL coverage in part because its acquisition of NFL Network and other schedule demands for commentators.
Some NFL games that appear on ESPN properties, which also includes contests originally slotted for NFL Network after the merger between the two companies earlier this year, will look – and sound – different in 2026. The Athletic reported Thursday that the ESPN No. 2 NFL booth of Chris Fowler (play-by-play), Dan Orlvosky (analyst) and Louis Riddick (analyst) will not be back for the 2026 season.
The trio called a handful of NFL games together each season for the past three years. ESPN declined to comment to USA TODAY Sports. ESPN officially took over NFL Network as part of a 10 percent equity stake in ESPN this week.
And the main reason for the No. 2 booth change are the scheduling challenges presented should the secondary team be responsible for calling international games. The bulk of NFL Network’s contests, now part of ESPN’s production, were overseas.
That would obviously affect the availability of Fowler, who calls the top college game for the network every Saturday in the fall and is a fixture of ESPN's tennis coverage, including the U. S. Open in the fall.