Laura Rutledge Opens Up About Anxiety at ESPN

Laura Rutledge has been candid about her struggles with anxiety during her tenure at ESPN.

As a host on channels like ESPN, ABC, and SEC Networks, Rutledge revealed that her anxiety became particularly pronounced when she transitioned to a full-time sideline reporter role on “Monday Night Football” last season.

“I deal with it every day, I really do,” Rutledge shared on the Shannon Sparks show during a recent episode of the podcast “Sons and Daughters.” She added, “There are probably people out there in television who feel great every day, but that’s never been the case for me.”

Even though she acknowledges her abilities, Rutledge often finds herself doubting her competence. “I end up being my own worst enemy,” she admitted. “I tell myself I can’t do it, and I’ll fail.”

Discussing her experience on “Monday Night Football,” she noted that although she had made several appearances in prior seasons, this was the first year she was fully immersed in the role. Game days were long, filled with her contributions to “SportsCenter” and “Monday Night Countdown.”

In the midst of all the pressure, Rutledge noticed a pattern of self-doubt creeping in. “Before the day started, I would push myself and think, ‘I can’t do this, I’m going to fail today,'” she reflected. “I really beat myself up about it.”

Interestingly, she found that most of her negative thoughts dissipated once the game began. “By the time I got to the game, I was like, ‘Oh, I’m fine,'” she said. “Every Monday, I had to prove to myself that I really could do it again, which is kind of crazy because I couldn’t convince myself I could do it the previous week.”

Rutledge’s first full season was not without its challenges. She recalled an encounter with Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert, who initially ignored her after a postgame victory. Although she later got her interview, he provided surprisingly brief responses during their exchange.

Starting her career as a sideline reporter at FOX Sports, Rutledge joined ESPN in 2014, taking on the role of host for “NFL Live” in 2020. In 2025, she transitioned to a full-time sideline reporting position alongside Lisa Salters.

She plans to continue in this role for the 2026 season.