ESPN Announces NFL Pro Bowl Coverage Broadcast Schedule

Courtesy: ESPN

The stage is officially set for this year’s Super Bowl, but before the big game, there will be one more game for NFL fans — the NFL’s annual Pro Bowl, and ESPN will carry full coverage of the annual NFL superstar showcase game.

This year’s NFL Pro Bowl will be played this Sunday, January 28 live from Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida.  ESPN’s coverage of the game is scheduled to start at 2:50 p.m. ET, with coverage being simulcast on television on ABC and ESPN Deportes.  It will also stream online via the ESPN app.

ESPN Deportes’ coverage is scheduled to start at 1 p.m. ET with a special edition of SportsCenter.  Eduardo Varela and analyst Pablo Viruega will have the call for the network.

ESPN and ABC’s pre-game coverage is also scheduled to start at 1 p.m. with a special Postseason NFL Countdown pregame show.  The program will air live from Camping World Stadium.  Analysts Randy Moss and Charles Woodson will join host Suzy Kolber for additional commentary alongside ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter and reporter Michele Steele.

ESPN Monday Night Football voice Sean McDonough will anchor the ESPN/ABC broadcast of the NFL Pro Bowl. He will be joined in the booth by analyst Matt Hasselbeck for a special one-time appearance.  Field analyst Louis Riddick and reporter Lisa Salters will also be on hand for additional commentary.

Among the stars expected to play in Sunday’s game are Drew Brees (New Orleans Saints), Todd Gurley (Los Angeles Rams), Derek Carr (Oakland Raiders), Jarvis Landry (Miami Dolphins) and others.

Before Brees and the rest of the NFL’s elite take to the field for the Pro Bowl, they will take part tonight, in the Pro Bowl Skills Showdown.  Coverage is scheduled to start at 9 p.m. ET.  McDonough and the rest of the MNF team will call the competition, which will be held at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.

The competition sees the stars competing in events such as the Drone Drop, Precision passing drill (for quarterbacks), Gridiron Gauntlet (relay race) and Pro Bowl Dodgeball (exactly what it sounds like) as well as other events.

Those who miss tonight’s broadcast will get more chances to see it as it will re-air on ESPN, ABC and even Disney XD.  the current schedule of events leading up to the ESPN networks’ Pro Bowl broadcast is noted below.

ESPN Programs at 2018 NFL Pro Bowl:

DATE	TIME (ET)	SHOW & COMMENTATORS	NETWORK(S)
Thurs, Jan 25	7 a.m. – 3 p.m.	SportsCenter and NFL Live * (Pro Bowl practices – ESPN Wide World of Sports) Wendi Nix, Darren Woodson, Jac Collinsworth and Steele	ESPN/ESPN2
	9 p.m.	Pro Bowl Skills Showdown (ESPN’s Wide World of Sports) Sean McDonough, Matt Hasselbeck and Lisa Salters	ESPN
Fri, Jan 26	7 a.m. – 3 p.m.	SportsCenter and NFL Live * (Pro Bowl practices – ESPN Wide World of Sports) Nix, Woodson, Collinsworth and Steele	ESPN/ESPN2
Sat, Jan 27	7-11 a.m.	SportsCenter * (Pro Bowl practices – ESPN Wide World of Sports) Steele	ESPN
Sun, Jan 28	6:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.	SportsCenter * (Pro Bowl – Camping World Stadium) Steele	ESPN
	1-2:50 p.m.	Postseason NFL Countdown (Camping World Stadium) Suzy Kolber, Randy Moss, Charles Woodson, Adam Schefter and Steele	ESPN ABC
	2:50 p.m.	NFL Pro Bowl (Camping World Stadium) McDonough, Hasselbeck, Riddick and Salters	ESPN ESPN Deportes ABC

* show segments

More information on the ESPN networks’ NFL coverage is available online along with all of the latest NFL headlines at:

 

Website: http://www.espn.com/nfl

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/NFLonESPN

Twitter: http://twitter.com/ESPNNFL

 

To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it.  Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

ESPN Analyst Stepping Up For NFL Pro Bowl Broadcast

Courtesy: ESPN

ESPN has named its replacement for Jon Grudent at this year’s NFL Pro Bowl.

Matt Hasselbeck will join Sean McDonough in the booth Jan. 28 for ESPN’s broadcast of the league’s annual best of the best exhibition game.  Hasselbeck already serves as an analyst on ESPN’s weekly Monday Night Football pre-game broadcasts, making him a familiar voice and face for audiences during the game.

According to ESPN Senior Vice President, Events & Studio Production Stephanie Druley, Hasselbeck had already been scheduled to be part of the network’s studio coverage team for the Pro Bowl ahead of this new announcement.  She said in a prepared statement that his experience played a big part in the decision to place him alongside McDonough.

“Matt has experience calling games and will be a great fit alongside Sean McDonough for this Pro Bowl assignment,” Druley said.  “He is a three-time Pro Bowl quarterback with connections to many players and coaches throughout the league, and he was already scheduled to cover the game as part of our ESPN studio team.”

Hasselbeck was humble as he talked about getting to help call the game.

“Making the Pro Bowl is a special achievement as a player — it’s pretty humbling, but the part I enjoyed most is getting to know the best of the best in a relaxed setting,” Hasselbeck said.  “I can’t wait to call the Skills Showdown and the Pro Bowl game with Sean and [reporter] Lisa (Salters).”

While Hasselbeck will play a direct role in calling this year’s Pro Bowl, his stint alongside McDonough is currently only for the one game.  Druley stressed in additional comments that the search for Jon Gruden’s replacement is ongoing and that no one has yet been named to take his place.

“The process for determining our new Monday Night Football booth is already under way,” Druley said.  “We are looking at both internal and external candidates and expect to have a decision made this spring.  This is one of the most high-profile and and attractive positions in all of sports broadcasting, so we want to take our time to ensure we make the best decision.”

The 2018 NFL Pro Bowl will air Jan. 28 at 2:50 p.m. ET on ESPN live from Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida.  It will be simulcast on ABC and will stream live on the ESPN App.  Spanish-speaking audiences will be able to enjoy the game on television on ESPN Deportes.

The Skills Showdown, which is part of the NFL Pro Bowl festivities, will air Jan. 25 at p.m. ET on ESPN.

More information on ESPN’s NFL Pro Bowl coverage is available online now along with all of the latest NFL headlines at:

 

Website: http://www.espn.com/nfl

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/NFLonESPN

Twitter: http://twitter.com/ESPNNFL

 

To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it.  Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.