Sources confirm: ESPN re-signs prominent NFL reporters Jeff Darlington, Dan Graziano, Kimberley A. Martin and Ed Werder ahead of 2022 season

• Stay focused on providing fans with the latest NFL news, exclusive interviews and unparalleled storytelling
  
• Regular contributions on Sunday NFL Countdown, nfl live, sports center, Rise and additional cross-platform shows
  
• Join NFL veterans Sal Paolantonio and Dianna Russini

ESPN’s NFL Reporters Jeff Darlington, Dan Graziano, Kimberley A. Martin and Ed Werder will continue their best-in-class reporting for the network, as ESPN has re-signed the accomplished reporters to new deals. Darlington, Graziano, Martin and Werder will continue to cover the NFL throughout the year, providing fans with breaking news, live on-site reporting, exclusive and hard-hitting interviews with the league’s biggest names and the brand of ESPN’s factory, world-class storytelling.

Veteran ESPN NFL Reporters Sal Paolantonio and Diane Russini, both amid multi-year deals, join Darlington, Graziano, Martin and Werder to provide fans with daily NFL coverage year-round. Together, the group brings unparalleled experience to ESPN and expertise that has propelled them each to the top of their industry.

“This core group of NFL reporters are among the most valued and esteemed voices covering the NFL,” said Seth Markmanvice president and executive producer. “Their connections and sources across the League are unparalleled and we are delighted to have them back on fan screens – stadiums, training facilities and in the studio – all year round.”

Throughout the year, fans will continue to see and hear each of the multi-tool reporters on ESPN studio broadcasts, including Sunday NFL Countdown as they report on the biggest matches of the week on location. NFL Live, SportsCenter, Get Up and other studio programs will also continue to feature the group regularly — as panelists and replacement hosts — as will ESPN radio and cross-platform digital properties.

On-site coverage of iconic NFL events – Super Bowl week, the NFL Draft, the NFL Scouting Combine, NFL meetings and more – will remain an integral part of every reporter’s role.

For the season premiere of Sunday NFL Countdown, ahead of Week 1, fans will hear live on-site reports from each of the reporters on the three-hour 9/11 show (10 a.m. to 1 p.m. ET) (assignments, subject to change):

About the band:

• Jeff Darlington: An Emmy-winning journalist, Darlington joined ESPN in 2016 and has brought fans exclusive interviews with the game’s top journalists from Tom Brady, Patrick Mahomes and other elite stars. More recently, Darlington’s feature film “Hey, Noah” – the story of a young cancer survivor and Tom Brady – was nominated for a Sports Emmy for Outstanding Feature Film. Based in South Florida, Darlington previously worked at the NFL Network as a national reporter, the miami herald oneand the palm beach post as a beat reporter for the Miami Dolphins and for the Orlando Sentinel as a beatwriter for the Florida Gators.
• Dan Graziano: After starting as an NFC East blogger for ESPN in 2011, Graziano was an inaugural member of ESPN’s NFL Nation team in 2013, where he exclusively covered the New York Giants for ESPN.com. Graziano was named ESPN’s National NFL Reporter in 2016. As of 2019, Graziano has also been a regular backup host and panelist on ESPN. Rise and It’s just in. A graduate of Georgetown University, Graziano previously worked at palm beach post and the Star Ledgerin his home state of New Jersey.
• Kimberly A. Martin: An NFL reporter for over a decade, Martin joined ESPN in March 2020 after reporting for numerous top outlets – Yahoo! Sports, where she was senior writer for the NFL, the Washington Postthe Buffalo News and press day. Alongside her NFL reporting, Martin is the co-host of ESPN’s only all-female podcast, “Take his grip first.” A native of Brooklyn, NY, Martin attended Wesleyan University before earning his master’s degree in magazine, newspaper, and online journalism from Syracuse University’s SI Newhouse School of Public Communication.
• Ed Werder: A veteran NFL reporter for over 40 years, 2022 will mark Werder’s 25^e year covering the NFL for ESPN. Since 2019, he’s been a Dallas-based bureau reporter covering the NFL and the Cowboys, in particular. Prior to ESPN, Werder was a beat writer covering the Dallas Cowboys and Denver Broncos. Hailing from Colorado, Werder has reported for major outlets such as Sports Illustrated (1987-95), the Fort Worth Star Telegram (1989), the Orlando Sentinel (1991) and the Dallas Morning News (1992-96).
• Sal Paolantonio: Since joining ESPN in 1995, Paolantonio has become one of the most important and respected voices in the NFL. In addition to his previously mentioned roles, Paolantonio is the host of the long-running show, NFL game, an in-depth look at the week’s X’s and O’s focused matches through the exclusive use of team-provided gameplay footage. Prior to joining ESPN, he spent 10 years at Philadelphia plaintiff as a national political reporter and as a reporter for the Philadelphia Eagles. A native of Queens, NY, Paolantonio graduated from the State University of New York at Oneonta in 1977 with a Bachelor of Arts in History. In 2013, the school awarded him the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters. He also earned a master’s degree in journalism from New York University in 1980.
• Diane Russini: A multifaceted NFL reporter at ESPN since 2017, Russini originally joined the network as sports center anchor in 2015. Since then, she’s told many game-changing NFL stories and sat down with some of the league’s biggest names, such as head coaches Mike Tomlin, Mike Vrabel and Sean McVay. . A native of Bronx, NY, Russini was a Division I football player at George Mason University. Prior to joining ESPN, Russini worked at television stations nationwide, with WRC-TV (NBC4) in Washington, DC being her final stop before ESPN, where she served as the main sports anchor.

Media contacts:
Derek Volner ([email protected])
Lily Blum ([email protected])

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