Rich Eisen

Richard Eisen (/ˈaɪzən/ EYE-zən; born June 24, 1969)[1] is an American television sportscaster and radio host. Since 2003, he has worked for NFL Network as a host of various pregame, halftime, and postgame shows. He also hosts a daily sports radio show, The Rich Eisen Show. From 1996 to 2003, he worked at ESPN, most prominently as an anchor of SportsCenter.

Rich Eisen
Eisen at the 2011 NFL Draft
Born (1969-06-24) June 24, 1969
Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Alma materUniversity of Michigan (BA)
Northwestern University (MS)
OccupationSportscaster
Spouse
​
(m. 2003)​
Children3
Websitenfl.com/nflnetwork/onairtalent/rich-eisen

Early life and education

Eisen was born in the Brooklyn borough of New York City, and was raised on Staten Island, New York City.[1][2]

Eisen attended the University of Michigan, where he served as co–sports editor of the school's Michigan Daily and was a member of the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity.[3] He graduated in 1990 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. In 1994, he earned a Master of Science degree in journalism from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University.

Broadcasting career

Early years (1990–1996)

Eisen was first a staff writer for the Staten Island Advance from 1990 to 1993, and the Chicago Tribune in 1993 and 1994. He was then a sports anchor and reporter at KRCR-TV in Redding, California, from 1994 to 1996, and also worked in television as the Medill News Service's Washington correspondent (1994).[1]

ESPN (1996–2003)

Before working for the NFL Network, he worked for ESPN. He was part of a duo with Stuart Scott, and he became well known for his humor, most notably his impressions of Atlanta Braves broadcaster Skip Caray, and provided interviews during the Home Run Derby. Eisen was also the host of ESPN's reality series, Beg, Borrow & Deal. For ESPN Radio, he served as host of Major League Baseball on CBS Radio and as a guest host on The Tony Kornheiser Show and The Dan Patrick Show. Outside of the world of sports, Eisen hosted the ABC show Domino Day.

Among Eisen's notable achievements while at ESPN was breaking the news of St. Louis slugger Mark McGwire's retirement from baseball in 2001 on SportsCenter. Days later, he sat down with McGwire for an exclusive interview elaborating on the decision.

NFL Network (2003–present)

Rich Eisen was the first on-air talent added to the NFL Network roster in June 2003. He was the main host of NFL Total Access, the network's flagship program, until August 2011. Eisen signed a new long-term deal with NFL Network in 2010 and became the new host of NFL GameDay Morning, the first pregame show on the NFL Network. Eisen also remains host of NFL GameDay Highlights, as well as NFL Network's Thursday Night Football pregame, halftime and postgame shows and special on-location coverage from league events such as Kickoff, Pro Football Hall of Fame, NFL Scouting Combine, NFL Draft and Super Bowl.

Eisen (left) and Marshall Faulk during the 2010 NFL Draft

Eisen expanded his résumé in 2010 with the debut of "The Rich Eisen Podcast," the first-ever podcast for NFL.com. The weekly podcast, available on Apple Podcasts among many other sources, features guests from the world of sports and entertainment news talking football and all the latest headlines. Since its debut, the podcast has been downloaded more than seven million times and celebrated its 200th episode. Eisen hosts his nationally syndicated sports talk radio show with Chris Brockman, Michael Del Tufo, and TJ Jefferson.

In November 2012, Eisen's first Thanksgiving Special aired on the NFL Network with a variety of celebrity guests talking mostly sports and current events.[4][5]

In 2005, Terrell Davis challenged Eisen to compete in the 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine. Eisen runs it annually, wearing a suit, and his times are:

2005200620072008200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192020202120222023
6.776.226.436.346.346.216.186.036.035.986.105.946.025.976.005.98[6]6.036.166.22

That makes his best time 5.94, in 2016.[7]

Eisen turned his annual sprint into a charitable campaign "#RunRichRun" which raises money for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. His campaign has already raised over $2.5 million[8] and for his work he was honored with the 2017 Pat Summerall Award.[9] A graphic based on one of his runs is the trademark of his weekday radio and television talk show.

The Rich Eisen Show (2014–present)

On October 6, 2014, Eisen began a new sportstalk TV/radio show, The Rich Eisen Show. The show was broadcast live from DirecTV's El Segundo, California Studios on Audience Network[10] and NFL Now.[11]

On November 3, 2014, the show was picked up by Fox Sports Radio and broadcast daily from noon to 3 p.m. ET.[12] Eisen took over the slot from Jay Mohr, who moved to the 3–6 p.m. slot.[13]

In early March 2020, the show's broadcast moved from Audience to YouTube due to the impending shutdown of Audience. NBCSN and eventually NBC's streaming service Peacock picked up the show later in 2020. The program moved again, to The Roku Channel in September 2022.[14]

When the show moved to The Roku Channel, it also moved to a new location on Sirius XM satellite radio and Internet streaming, after several years on NBC Sports Audio; it is now available on Sirius 216, XM 202, and SXM app channel 992.[15]

In 2022, the show was nominated for the Outstanding Studio Show Sports Emmy Award.[16]

Other networks/shows

Eisen was the host of the TNT original reality series, The Great Escape, which debuted on June 24, 2012, and was cancelled in October 2012.[17]

From 2015 to 2017, Eisen had a recurring role as himself on the CBS sitcom The Odd Couple, playing the archrival of fictional sports radio personality Oscar Madison (played by Matthew Perry).

Since 2016, Eisen has appeared on multiple episodes of Comedy Central's TV series @midnight. In February 2018, Eisen co-hosted, with Rebecca Romijn, The American Rescue Dog Show on The Hallmark Channel.

In 2020, Eisen and The Rich Eisen Show are featured on Madden NFL 21: Face of The Franchise.[18]

In 2022, Eisen was as guest star in five episodes of the Disney TV series The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers.

Personal life

Eisen is Jewish.[19] In 2003, Eisen married Suzy Shuster, formerly a college football sideline reporter for ESPN on ABC. They have two sons and a daughter, as well as two Golden Retriever rescue dogs. They live near Coldwater Canyon in Beverly Hills, California.[20]

Eisen wrote the book Total Access, which was published in 2007.[21] In 2012, he started the "Punters Are People Too" movement[22] after Bryan Anger was drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the third round of the 2012 NFL Draft.

He also does a charity run for St. Jude Children's Hospital which is called Run Rich run. It has raised an approximately $5.2 million for the hospital.

He is a fan of the New York Jets and New York Yankees.

References
  1. "Rich Eisen Biography". Grabow.biz. Archived from the original on February 7, 2012. Retrieved November 6, 2007. Born in Brooklyn, N.Y. on June 24, 1969, and raised in Staten Island...
  2. "WFAN's Mike Francesa Talks Giants Benching Eli Manning & More w/Rich Eisen". The Rich Eisen Show. November 29, 2017. Archived from the original on December 13, 2021. Retrieved May 16, 2019 – via YouTube.
  3. "Rich Eisen (Alpha Kappa – Michigan) – Former ESPN Anchor". pikappsonline.com. Pi Kappa Phi. Archived from the original on January 31, 2013. Retrieved September 24, 2012.
  4. "The Rich Eisen Holiday Special". NFL.com. November 23, 2012. Archived from the original on September 5, 2015. Retrieved May 16, 2019.
  5. "NFL Network: On Air Talent: Rich Eisen". NFL.com. Retrieved July 22, 2017.
  6. Curtis, Charles (March 2, 2020). "Rich Eisen breaks six seconds in his latest 40-yard dash at the NFL combine". USA Today. Retrieved March 2, 2020.
  7. Schwartz, Nick (February 25, 2014). "Rich Eisen broke the 6-second barrier in the 40-yard dash". USA Today. Retrieved May 16, 2019.
  8. Around the NFL Staff (April 21, 2021). "'Run Rich Run' 40-yard dash to air on NFL Network during 2021 NFL Draft coverage". NFL.com. Retrieved December 18, 2022.
  9. St. Jude Children's Research (February 15, 2017). "Rich Eisen honored with the 2017 Pat Summerall Award during Super Bowl LI week at Legends for Charity® Dinner". PR Newswire. Retrieved July 22, 2017.
  10. Strauss, Chris (August 18, 2014). "Rich Eisen is getting a three-hour daily NFL talk show on DirecTV". USA Today. Retrieved June 4, 2023.
  11. "Series Premiere of 'The Rich Eisen Show' to Air Today on DIRECTV and NFL Now". NFL Communications. October 6, 2014. Archived from the original on October 8, 2014. Retrieved October 6, 2014.
  12. "FOX Sports Radio & DIRECTV to Bring THE RICH EISEN SHOW to Sports Radio Fans Nationwide". Broadwayworld.com. October 7, 2014. Retrieved October 7, 2014.
  13. Yoder, Matt (October 6, 2014). "Fox Sports Radio will be picking up The Rich Eisen Show". AwfulAnnouncing.com. Retrieved July 22, 2017.
  14. Steinberg, Brian (August 16, 2022). "'Rich Eisen Show' Jumps to Roku From Peacock". Variety.com. Retrieved March 2, 2023.
  15. ""Sports Play-by-Play 202". SiriusXM.com. Retrieved March 2, 2023.
  16. "NBC Sports Earns 31 Sports Emmy Award Nominations". nbcsportsgrouppressbox.com. April 6, 2022.
  17. "TNT orders first reality competition show". UPI.com. January 6, 2012. Retrieved March 15, 2012.
  18. "MADDEN 21 Face Of The Franchise | CHOOSING A COLLEGE (Rise to Fame Career Mode) Ep 2". Retrieved August 24, 2020 – via YouTube.
  19. @RichEisen (December 22, 2013). "I'm Jewish. RT @AdamPierces @richeisen you looked like you never sat on Santa's lap before" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  20. Jackson, Candace (September 6, 2012). "Home Front: Mixing Young Kids With a Collection". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved May 16, 2019.
  21. "Total Access: The Journey to the Center of the NFL Universe". Barnes & Noble. Retrieved July 22, 2017.
  22. "Punters Are People Too! – NFL Punters & Players Join the Movement". NFL.com. September 27, 2012. Archived from the original on January 22, 2013. Retrieved May 4, 2019.
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