When Charissa Thompson announced that she was leaving the entertainment program Extra earlier this week, speculation ran rampant that she could be leaving Fox and head to ESPN where she could co-host Mike Greenberg’s morning show. But that will not happen. SI’s Richard Deitsch reports that Thompson is staying put at Fox. Her contract was to expire at the end of this year.
While Thompson first joined Fox in 2006 and went to ESPN for a short stint from 2011 to 2013, she’s remained loyal to Fox where she got her first shot. Nothing has been set in stone, but it appears that she’ll remain as host as Fox NFL Kickoff which airs at 11 a.m. ET on Sundays before Fox NFL Sunday. And there will be other opportunities for her with Fox as well:
The likelihood is any new deal also includes additional appearances throughout the network. Thompson, 35, recently announced she was leaving the Hollywood news magazine Extra. Given the scope of Fox, any new contract could also include entertainment opportunities within that company.
Before this latest news, there were reports about Thompson joining ESPN, first as a potential replacement for Chris Berman on Sunday NFL Countdown, then possibly joining the Greenberg-fronted morning show. But all that is now in the past as Thompson will stay with Fox.
Thompson has filled several roles at Fox including host, sideline reporter and interviewer. She was one of the first faces to appear during the launch of Fox Sports 1.
Fox wanted to keep Thompson and it appears that it has thus staving off efforts by the Worldwide Leader to bring her to Bristol, CT.
About Ken Fang
Ken has been covering the sports media in earnest at his own site, Fang's Bites since May 2007 and at Awful Announcing since March 2013.
He provides a unique perspective having been an award-winning radio news reporter in Providence and having worked in local television.
Fang celebrates the four Boston Red Sox World Championships in the 21st Century, but continues to be a long-suffering Cleveland Browns fan.