If at all, there’s anyone who has successfully risen through the steep hills of sports broadcasting—it’s probably Erin Andrews. From her days at the University of Florida, where Erin pursued a Bachelor of Arts in telecommunications, her focus was always on sports. Andrews once dreamt of becoming the female sportscaster she is now. However, things could have been way different for her if not for some intelligent manoeuvring she did to save her career.

Navigating through unemployment after her Fox contract came to an end, Andrews still doesn’t know what the future has in store for her. Well, there was a time in the early 2000s when she found herself in a similar situation. At that time, it was Andrews’ quick thinking and knowledge about her industry that launched her career. Hopping on Today with Jenna & Friends, Andrews recalled the time when she got herself the ESPN job.

Before Fox Sports and football changed her life, Andrews was deep into hockey. From 2001 to 2002, Andrews served as the Tampa Bay Lightning’s reporter for the Sunshine Network. That was her first sportscasting gig in the hockey world. Then obviously, Andrews started expanding her network. In the next two years, she covered the Atlanta Thrashers for the Turner South Network. So, given the experience and knowledge Andrews had garnered till now, she wanted to take a giant leap.

Apparently, her eyes were on ESPN. “I wanted to try to be on ESPN because I knew that they had the hockey coverage for the playoffs, and I was good at it, and I was coming from that,” Andrews revealed. But only knowing what ESPN had and what she could offer wasn’t enough. So, Andrews used a trick to get into ESPN. “Like most girls in the sports industry, after a game the crew goes to a bar…So I knew that this crew was gonna be in my town at the time. And I was like, they’re gonna go to the bar after, I’m gonna show up and say hi, I’m Erin Andrews, yeah, I think this network is gonna get rid of me, do you think there would be availability at this network?” Andrews recalled.

Well, the rest, as you know, is history. Andrews got the job. Started as a reporter for ESPN National Hockey Night. But soon after, she was installed as the sideline reporter for ESPN College Football Saturday Primetime games. Although she served in other roles, football slowly became her primary sports coverage. And just like that, after 8 years with ESPN, Andrews joined their rivals, FOX, in 2012. Now, after 12 years with FOX, Andrews doesn’t know what’s next. But it seems her former employers have teased a possible reunion with their star sportscaster.

Erin Andrews FOX Chapter probably hasn’t reached its end

Andrews has always held FOX in the highest regard. Just recently, she credited them on her Calm Down Podcast for bringing out the best in her. “I think when I went to FOX, I was really able to show who I was. I remember somebody telling me, We want to see you smile and having fun with the players. We want your personality to come out.” Even earlier this year, when her FOX contract had just ended after the Super Bowl. Andrews spoke about the time FOX made her feel like an extended family.

“I love FOX so much because my brother and my dad came to the Super Bowl, and FOX’s family to me, so my own family like sharing in those moments. It was so fun, and FOX just makes them feel so welcome and makes sure they’re included in the events and everything. So I just would be remiss if I didn’t mention how wonderful my extended work family is to my own family.” However, the sad part is obviously that Andrews doesn’t have a contract anymore with FOX. And the good part is that there is still hope.

When FOX shared an infographic showcasing some of their games on their network, there Andrews popped up. She was captured alongside lead analyst Tom Brady, Kevin Burkhardt, and Tom Rinaldi on the post. So, is a contract renewal for Andrews coming soon? Like, if not, then why would FOX still use her face on next season’s broadcasting schedule? Well, only time will tell whether it was an innocent mistake. Or a puzzle for Andrews fans to decipher.