Laura Rutledge was terrified getting pregnant meant her broadcasting career was over

Credit: The Pivot Laura Rutledge is at the top of her game. As the host of NFL Live and a sideline reporter for Monday Night Football , not to mention many other roles that come up at ABC and ESPN, she’s seemingly everywhere during football season (and beyond). The 37-year-old, who re-signed a multi-year deal with ESPN in 2025 , has already packed a lot into her broadcasting career, from reporting and hosting at Fox Sports to hosting SEC Nation until recently.

She’s seemingly been working nonstop since the early 2010s. She’s also found time to raise a family with husband Josh Rutledge, a retired MLB infielder. They welcomed their daughter, Reese, in October 2019, and their son, Jack, in May 2023.

According to the longtime reporter, it was when she became pregnant with Reese that she experienced the strangest sensation. She was disappointed. Rutledge explained what she meant by that during an appearance on The Pivot, where she joined her NFL Live coworker Ryan Clark.

As part of a wide-ranging conversation, Clark asked Rutledge what it means to her to “have it all,” and the ESPN host offered a very honest and introspective answer. “For the woman who has proven to many people, though difficult, you can have it all, what does [Mother’s Day] mean for you and your family? ” asked Clark.