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ESPN on-air personality Desmond Howard inks multi-year deal

By Jeff Hawkins

Nov 26, 2016; Columbus, OH, USA; ESPN College Gameday hosts from left Desmond Howard and Rece Davis and Lee Corso and Kirk Herbstreit discuss the days matchups on their set outside Ohio Stadium before the game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and Michigan Wolverines. Ohio State won the game 30-27 in double overtime. Mandatory Credit: Greg Bartram-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 26, 2016; Columbus, OH, USA; ESPN College Gameday hosts from left Desmond Howard and Rece Davis and Lee Corso and Kirk Herbstreit discuss the days matchups on their set outside Ohio Stadium before the game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and Michigan Wolverines. Ohio State won the game 30-27 in double overtime. Mandatory Credit: Greg Bartram-USA TODAY Sports /
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ESPN retains on-air analyst Desmond Howard for the all-sports network’s college football programming.

With ESPN making news recently for laying off a large number of its staff, the all-sports network found enough funds its budget Tuesday to retain Desmond Howard. The college football analyst signed a multi-year deal to remain on College GameDay. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Howard is the 1991 Heisman Trophy winner and Super Bowl XXXI MVP.

Joining ESPN in 2005, Howard will continue to play a big role on College GameDay. It is television’s longest-tenured Saturday pregame program. The morning show has captured seven Emmy Awards. Howard also will participate on College Football Live, the network’s daily news platform and call select mid-week regular-season contests.

“I am both excited and reflective as I embark upon my 13th season with ESPN,” Howard said via press release. “When I transitioned from playing the game to talking about it for a living, I could not have landed on a better team than College GameDay. (It’s) where I’ve been fortunate to learn from and grow with some of the very best in this industry. Likewise, I consider myself lucky to be able to travel the country throughout the fall and be surrounded by so many die-hard college football fans who gather together to help us create a uniquely electric atmosphere every Saturday morning. Is it August yet?”

Howard’s presence also will be seen on ESPN’s College Football Playoff shows.

Coming and going

Billed as the “Worldwide Leader in Sports,” ESPN laid off a number of on-air talent and journalists in April. Among those who got axed were Trent Dilfer, Danny Kanell, Jim Bowden and Ed Werder, a long-time NFL reporter. In October 2015, ESPN let go of nearly 300 associates as it continues to struggle with shrinking viewership. The network has lost more than 10 million subscribers the last several years, according to The New York Times.

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A kick return specialist, Howard played 11 years in the NFL for five teams.

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