From 1996 to 2003, he was a foundational voice at ESPN, bringing a blend of wit, authority, and consistency to the network’s NFL coverage. When he left for NFL Network in 2003, it wasn’t just a career pivot—it was a declaration. Rich Eisen helped shape NFL Network’s identity from the ground up, eventually becoming the face of “NFL GameDay” and the league’s draft coverage. Along the way, he built something personal, and how most of us know him today, The Rich Eisen Show, which was launched in 2014.

That show, first, began on DirecTV’s Audience Network, then migrated to Fox Sports Radio, YouTube, NBCSN, Peacock, and eventually Roku. It has now found a new home… A kind of full-circle moment for Eisen. According to The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand, Eisen is returning to ESPN. “NEWS: More than two decades after leaving ESPN, Rich Eisen is returning to be a part of the network,” Marchand reported.

The show will move from Roku to ESPN platforms this fall as part of a licensing deal similar to what ESPN has with The Pat McAfee Show. Eisen’s show, which airs from noon to 3 p.m. ET, is also under consideration for ESPN Radio. However, that last bit needs some more work on the paper.

But it’s just like how Pat McAfee runs it. Eisen will retain ownership and editorial control of the program. While the financial terms remain undisclosed, the move aligns with ESPN’s broader push to redefine its content offering outside of cable.

ESPN’s new DTC strategy is about access without cable: live programming, traditional channels, and on-demand content—available to subscribers directly. Bringing Eisen into the fold is a clear signal that ESPN sees original, personality-driven content as core to that strategy. His presence, alongside McAfee’s, anchors a daily content window critical for user retention and app engagement.

However, this move should not come as a surprise. Eisen dropped hints back in 2022 when he told Ariel Helwani that discussions had occurred. “I was ready to go,” he said at the time. It didn’t materialize then. It has now. And unlike some former ESPN personalities who have distanced themselves from the network, Eisen never publicly closed the door. But with the recent Stephen A. Smith news, it’s all more huge for ESPN to bring a calmer voice.

Stephen A. Smith must ‘stop’!

There’s at least once where we have all felt that maybe, just maybe, Stephen A. Smith should have just kept quiet. But he is ESPN’s voice, after all. Or is he? Because even that is a factor which is depending on who you ask.

NBA legend Charles Barkley just pulled the emergency brake on the Stephen A’s expansion train. And this wasn’t a casual critique. Barkley, who’s heading to ESPN with Inside the NBA in 2025-26, made it clear: the nonstop Stephen A. content? It’s too much.

“You know, Stephen A.’s a friend of mine but he needs to stop right now,” Barkley said on OutKick’s Don’t @ Me podcast. The message wasn’t about tone or content. It was about saturation. “Less is more… the more you do, the less people take you serious.” Barkley isn’t just talking. He walks that line himself. Two commercials a year. Limited March Madness appearances. No extra shows. Why? “People get sick of you.” That’s a warning, not a whisper.

And Barkley isn’t the only one noticing. Smith, who reportedly signed a $100 million deal, is everywhere—First Take, NBA Countdown, interviews, late-night slots, podcasts. You name it. ESPN is leaning so hard on him, the network might topple if he takes a vacation. For some fans, it already feels like overload. As Barkley sees it, this isn’t about money or exposure. It’s about credibility. Relevance doesn’t require omnipresence.

Still, that’s the paradox: if Stephen A. stops, does the machine stop too? Maybe it does. But maybe, the latest Rich Eisen move suggests that ESPN wants more voices than just one constant for the fans to have varied content.