Overview

• Following the Commanders–Bengals preseason game on Aug. 18, Eisen anchored the 11 p.m. ET SportsCenter from Los Angeles in his first hosting stint in 22 years, joined by ESPN NFL analyst Mina Kimes.
• The broadcast featured throwback graphics, the NFL Primetime theme, and an emotional on-air tribute to Eisen’s late former co-anchor Stuart Scott.
• ESPN says the episode averaged 708,000 viewers, about 67% higher than the typical 11 p.m. ET SportsCenter audience.
• An ESPN spokesperson said Eisen will headline periodic special editions of SportsCenter and make select appearances across ESPN studio shows while retaining his NFL Network role.
• The Rich Eisen Show debuts Sept. 2 on ESPN+, Disney+, and ESPN Radio under a licensing deal, with ESPN’s reported non-binding agreement to acquire NFL Network still pending approvals.