Longtime Fox sideline reporter Erin Andrews has overcome numerous obstacles throughout her 17-year career broadcasting career. And when some of the specific challenges were brought up by her father, Steve Andrews, during an appearance on Today with Jenna & Friends, both were overcome with emotion.
Steve Andrews understands some of the challenges that come with working in the media industry, previously serving as an Emmy-winning investigative reporter for WFLA, an NBC affiliate in Tampa, Florida. But his daughter had far more to overcome both professionally entering a male-dominated industry, and in her own personal life.
Prior to coming onto Today with Jenna & Friends, Steve Andrews took part in an interview that Erin would react to in real time, speaking to the adversity that she has had to overcome throughout her career. One moment in particular that was particularly traumatizing for both of them was when Erin Andrews was the victim of a stalking incident in 2008.
“The whole stalking incident was just emotionally devastating for her,” Steve Andrews said in the taped segment. “It was terrifying because we didn’t know who this was, how it happened, whether she was safe. That was the big question. Her sister called me a day or two after it happened, and she’s (saying), ‘Is she okay? Is she safe, Dad?’ And I said, ‘I don’t know. I really don’t know,’ I had volunteered, ‘I’ll go on the road with you, wherever you are. You know, I’ll be with you 24/7, whatever you want.’ What do you do? You try and get through it.”
Steve Andrews would also recall a phone call that changed both of their lives in 2016, when Erin informed him that she was diagnosed with cervical cancer. As has always been the case, Erin showed tremendous resilience, covering a Fox Sports feature of Jordy Nelson just two days after the phone call.
“It’s scary to hear your child on the phone calling you and saying, ‘I have cancer,'” said Steve Andrews. “I wanted to cry. I was brokenhearted. You have conversations with your God, and as a dad, I just said, ‘Let her be okay. Take me, let her be okay, It was hard. It was very hard. After the procedure, the doctor said, ‘I want you to just take it easy. Lay in bed for the next four or five days.’ And she’s like, ‘No, I can’t do that. I’ve got a game this weekend. It’s in Green Bay. The Cowboys are playing the Packers.’ And so I thought she was a little crazy, but okay.”
Andrews concluded the interview by sharing his admiration for his daughter, explaining how all she has overcome in her life is a testament to the kind of mental toughness that makes her such a great broadcaster.
“Erin is such a fighter,” added Steve Andrews. “In broadcasting, when you get knocked down, you have to be able to get back up. And Erin has experienced these physical, traumatic incidents, and you would think for the average person, you’d be on your back, you’re done. And she just used that as motivation to say, ‘This is not going to beat me, and they are not going to stop me from what I want to accomplish. And honestly, I don’t know that I have it in me to do what she did. She’s just so strong, so amazing.”
After the pre-recorded interview had finished, which both Erin and Steve were watching live on Today with Jenna & Friends, Erin Andrews was moved to tears, sharing her love for her dad with a kiss on the cheek.
“He’s amazing,” said Erin Andrews of her father. “My mom, my sister are all amazing as well. It’s funny, you said you don’t know if you could do that. We talked about this. When you are faced with certain things, you just have to put on the persona. ‘It’s okay, I’ve got it. I’ll handle it.’ Then you can fall apart when you are off camera. And my family has allowed me to do that.”
Clearly, an incredible support system has gone a long way in helping Erin Andrews become one of the best in the business as a sideline reporter despite all of the adversity she has had to overcome. And thankfully, football fans will get to enjoy her work from the sidelines for years to come after agreeing to an extension with Fox last month.
About Reice Shipley
Reice Shipley is a staff writer for Comeback Media that graduated from Ithaca College with a degree in Sports Media. He previously worked at Barrett Sports Media and is a fan of all things Syracuse sports.