Chris Fowler signs multi-year extension with ESPN, adds new broadcasting duties

ESPN signed play-by-play broadcaster Chris Fowler to a new, multi-year extension with the company while adding new broadcasting duties to his plate.

The voice of college football on the network, broadcasting in primetime alongside Kirk Herbstreit, Fowler will add five NFL games to his play-by-play duties this fall. He’s also set to call his 10th College Football Playoff national championship game.

ESPN released a statement regarding the deal.

“Fowler’s new agreement with ESPN further solidifies one of ESPN’s longest-tenured voices with company, who has progressed over a quarter century to be one of the most respected hosts and play-by-play commentators in television,” the release said. “Under the new agreement, he will continue with his many existing roles, including ESPN’s lead college football and Grand Slam tennis play-by-play commentator. 

“In those roles, he calls ABC Saturday Night Football and the College Football Playoff National Championship, as well as Wimbledon, the US Open and more. Fowler has previously called NFL games for ESPN, first in 2020 and then again in 2021.”

Fowler, also known for his tennis broadcasting, will continue on Wimbledon and US Open coverage. That comes on top of his football schedule.

Fowler will work alongside Dan Orlovsky, Louis Riddick and reporter Laura Rutledge on ESPN’s NFL broadcasts. As the release stated, Fowler will call five games this season, three locked in while four other games are determined based on ESPN and ABC’s call. That’ll rotate between Fowler’s team and the No. 1 squad of Joe Buck, Troy Aikman and Lisa Salters.

Week 2: Browns at Steelers (Monday, September 18 at 7:15 p.m. ET)
Week 3: Rams at Bengals (Monday, September 25 at 8:15 p.m. ET)
Week 4: Falcons vs. Jaguars in London (Sunday, October 1 at 9:30 a.m. ET)
Week 14: Titans at Dolphins OR Packers at Giants (Monday, December 11 at 8:15 p.m. ET)
Week 18: TBD (Saturday, January 6 at 4:30 p.m. ET or 8:15 p.m. ET)

Fowler, 61, joined ESPN in July 1986 and began hosting College GameDay in 1990, while expanding his college football coverage the next year.

Eventually, Fowler was off the pregame show and primarily kept his play-by-play duties. Rece Davis succeeded him on College GameDay in 2015.

For historians, Fowler was the host of ESPN Classic’s SportsCentury. The channel closed down in December of 2019.

Fowler attended the University of Colorado and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in 1985.