Joel Klatt has likely worked his final NFL Draft for NFL Network due to the ESPN-NFL Network merger. He believes Fox Sports will prevent him from working with ESPN, ending his informal arrangement with NFL Network.
Mentioned in this story
Photo Credit: NFL Network
Joel Klatt has likely worked his final NFL Draft for NFL Network.
With the ESPN-NFL Network merger now complete, Klatt recently told Kay Adams on Up & Adams that heās under the impression Fox Sports wonāt let him work for ESPN in any capacity, which would end the informal arrangement that had placed him alongside Rich Eisen, Daniel Jeremiah, and Charles Davis on NFL Networkās draft main set since 2021.
āI guess no one can predict the future,ā Klatt said. āBut with the merger, my place isnāt going to let me work for ESPN. And I doubt ESPN would want someone so prevalent on Fox. Iām loaned out. Iām a loaner. They loan me out for the lone weekend on the draft. I donāt know, maybe Iāll take my show and cover it as my show. Weāll see what happens.
āI love working the draft. Mostly because I really enjoy working with DJ and CD and Rich. We have such a great time. Iāll definitely miss it, but at the same time, it is the way the world turns. I was at one point a minor league baseball player and left that, and then ended my football career. I learned a long time ago that you donāt get too caught up and nostalgic about things because they will change.ā
ESPN formally acquired NFL Network on April 1 as part of a deal that gave the Worldwide Leader ownership of NFL Network, and linear distribution rights to RedZone, with the NFL receiving a 10 percent equity stake in ESPN in return. . The 2026 draft was the first produced under ESPNās ownership, and alongside Rece Davis and Mel Kiper Jr. on day three offered the first glimpse of what cross-network integration might look like going forward.
Joel Klatt is likely leaving NFL Network due to the ESPN-NFL Network merger, which he believes will restrict his ability to work with ESPN.
Klatt refers to being a 'loaner' as his temporary arrangement where he is allowed to work with NFL Network for the draft while primarily being associated with Fox Sports.
Other analysts who worked alongside Joel Klatt on NFL Network include Rich Eisen, Daniel Jeremiah, and Charles Davis.
Mikel Arteta criticized the VAR decision to overturn a penalty for Eberechi Eze, calling it 'completely unacceptable'. Arsenal drew 1-1 with Atletico Madrid in the Champions League semi-final first leg.
Morgan Rogers emerges as Manchester United's top attacking target at Ā£86m
Brayan Bello visibly upset after being pulled early against the Blue Jays
NC State adds Darius Adams from Maryland via transfer portal
Gerrit Cole ramps up rehab with 60 pitches in latest outing
See every story in Sports ā including breaking news and analysis.
Klatt, under contract with Fox, doesnāt appear likely to cross that line, and the same question remains to be seen with CBS Sports analyst Charles Davis, who is set to become the networkās lead college football analyst alongside Brad Nessler following Gary Danielsonās retirement.
As we noted in March, NFL Network will continue to produce a separate draft broadcast under ESPN ownership ā one of four distinct telecasts ESPN platforms aired this year ā alongside Mike Greenbergās traditional ESPN broadcast, the College GameDay crew on ABC, and Pat McAfeeās Draft Spectacular for the third consecutive year.
Eisen, who has hosted NFL Networkās draft coverage for nearly 20 years, is expected to remain as host.
The post Joel Klatt says heās likely worked his final NFL Draft for NFL Network appeared first on Awful Announcing.