"I believe I am done," Eisen told Sports Illustrated when asked if he would continue calling games this upcoming season.Eisen had called games for NFL Network since around 2018, including most of the network's international slate.Kurt Warner often served as the color analyst alongside him.ZERO BS.
JUST DAKICH.TAKE THE DON'T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD.
DOWNLOAD NOW!SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 08: NFL Network host Rich Eisen poses for a photo prior to the NFL Super Bowl LX football game between the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks at Levi Stadium on February 8, 2026 in Santa Clara, California.(Photo by Todd Rosenberg/Getty Images) (Getty Images)Sources tell OutKick it was ESPN's decision to remove Eisen from game broadcasts.
Dave Pasch is expected to replace him on NFL Network-exclusive games.Pasch, who is leaving his role with the Arizona Cardinals, will be a significant upgrade.He is one of ESPN's best play-by-play voices.Eisen never reached that level.His game-calling drew consistent criticism from fans and media observers.
He relied too heavily on clichés and talked over replays and the natural sounds of the game.He too often defaulted to the same phrases.
Critics frequently pointed to his limited vocabulary, such as repeatedly referring to midfield as "the shield," and his tendency to call games in the passive voice.INDIANAPOLIS, IN - FEBRUARY 24: NFL Network host Rich Eisen speaks during a live show at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine on February 24, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana.(Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images) (Getty Images)During the interview, Eisen attributed those struggles to instincts he developed as a studio host."I enjoyed doing it a lot, man.
I enjoyed doing it a lot.But it's so counter to what I normally do," Eisen told SI.
"Sitting in this chair on this set, three-hour radio TV simulcast game day morning on Sunday morning, if there's dead air, if there's blank space, if there's no talking, my first thought is to jump in and fi...