Report: Katie Nolan likely jumping to ESPN, and possibly soon if Fox lets her out of her contract

Months after we learned that FS1 would not renew Katie Nolan’s Garbage Time, it looks like the Emmy-winning host might soon leave Fox for its biggest competitor.

According to sports media reporter Jim Miller, Nolan will likely jump to ESPN—either imminently, or when her contract at Fox runs up at the end of the year.

Believing @katienolan is headed to @espn but wondering when. She's under contract w/ @FOXSports til end of year. Will they let her go early?

— james andrew miller (@JimMiller) July 7, 2017

Neither Fox nor Nolan has publicly discussed a plan for her post-Garbage Time future, and she has scarcely been seen on the FS1 airwaves in recent months. Miller reported last week that FS1 boss Jamie Horowitz planned to meet with Nolan before he was fired amid a sexual harassment investigation.

#Horowitz was reportedly set to meet w/ @katienolan as early as this weekend. Obvious Q: does this increase chances she goes to @espn?

— james andrew miller (@JimMiller) July 3, 2017

The fact that ESPN was trying to lure Nolan from Fox first came to light in February, shortly after the news that Garbage Time would not come back.

Nolan was vocal last year about wanting a nightly evening slot at Fox, suggesting a late-night talk show about sports. But according to Awful Announcing’s sources, when the 11 p.m. slot opened up following the cancellation of Fox Sports Live, the network offered it not to Nolan but to Clay Travis, who turned it down after being told he’d have to limit his political and social commentary and focus mainly on sports. Additionally, he wasn’t keen on having to relocate from Nashville to Los Angeles. The 11 p.m. ET slot is now typically filled by MLB Whiparound or live programming.

I've been offered my own daily show if I'd move to LA. But I'm happy in Nashville. I'm rich & have a great life. Still do hits. Also: *your

— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) June 4, 2017

Anyway, with Horowitz out, Garbage Time gone, and ESPN apparently calling, Nolan’s time at Fox certainly appears to be nearing an end.

If Nolan in fact goes to ESPN she could fit in a number of roles, potentially alongside Mike Greenberg on his new morning show, which will debut this coming January. She’s had success, particularly with young viewers, in a variety of formats, so there’s little question ESPN can build a show, or at least part of one, around her. It makes perfect sense that ESPN would want Nolan onboard, and it increasingly makes sense that she might want a change of scenery.