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ESPN Closes In on Announce Teams for NFL Network Games

The NFL Network slate features seven games, including a doubleheader on Dec. 26.

Kurt Warner
Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

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ESPN is closing in on its broadcast team pairings for its NFL Network slate of NFL games this season, Front Office Sports has learned.

Dave Pasch is expected to work with Kurt Warner and Bob Wischusen with Louis Riddick, sources said. An ESPN spokesperson declined to comment. 

ESPN announced in June it has re-signed Pasch to a multiyear deal. He has familiarity with Warner from when he was the longtime radio voice of the Arizona Cardinals, who Warner led to a Super Bowl berth in early 2009. Wischusen and Riddick will also be working together on college football games this year for the third consecutive season.

The Athletic previously reported that Pasch and Wischusen were expected to be the play-by-play broadcasters and that ESPN was “considering” Warner and Riddick for the games. The report also mentioned Jason Kelce as a potential analyst; a source told FOS this week that it is still “fluid” about whether Kelce will join some of these games and that no decision has been finalized either way. 

As FOS first reported, Molly McGrath is pivoting from college football to be the lead sideline reporter on NFL Network’s slate this season, and will be the top fill-in host for Laura Rutledge on NFL Live. 

NFL Network’s slate this season is as follows:

  • Oct. 4: Colts-Commanders (London)
  • Oct. 11: Eagles-Jaguars (London)
  • Oct. 18: Texans-Jaguars (London)
  • Oct. 25: Steelers-Saints (Saint-Denis)
  • Nov. 8: Bengals-Falcons (Madrid)

There is also a doubleheader on NFL Network in Week 16, on Saturday, Dec. 26, where the matchups are to be determined. 

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