ESPN’s two biggest news breakers aren’t going anywhere.
The network announced on Thursday that it had signed both NFL insider Adam Schefter and NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski to new multi-year extensions.
“Adam and Woj are difference-makers that solidify our long-term position as the definitive source for everything NFL and NBA,” ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro said in a statement. “When you combine today’s news about Adam and Woj with Jeff Passan’s signing, we are making a deliberate statement about ESPN’s commitment to serving fans with the most in-depth reporting, storytelling and around-the-clock news.”
The extensions come after months of speculation and rumors that the two were considering leaving the network when their contracts expired later this year. According to Front Office Sports’ Michael McCarthy, PointsBet was preparing offers for both Wojnarowski and Schefter, and Caesars Sportsbook had been linked to them, too.
Terms of the deals are not known. The Athletic’s Richard Deitsch reported that Schefter’s deal will be for five years, and Wojnarowski’s will likely be similar. The two were reportedly making between $2 million-3 million per year on their previous deals.
Schefter has been with ESPN since 2009. He previously worked as a beat writer covering the Denver Broncos for both the Rocky Mountain News and the Denver Post, and joined the NFL Network in 2004.
“Covering the most popular sport in the United States for the leading sports media company has been a dream combination,” Schefter said in a statement. “Every day, at each show and event, I am surrounded by the best teammates — producers, directors, researchers, production staff, and so many more — who elevate everyone around them. I love my job, feel blessed to continue and thank ESPN and Jimmy Pitaro for their consistent faith in me.”
Wojnarowski has been with ESPN since 2017 following nearly a decade run at Yahoo Sports.
“I’m eager to continue working with a remarkable group of colleagues and grateful for ESPN’s relentless commitment to newsgathering and reporting,” Wojnarowski said in a statement. “My profound appreciation to Jimmy Pitaro, Cristina Daglas, Norby Williamson, Dave Roberts, Lauren Reynolds, Greg Dowling, David Kraft and the entire universal news desk for the support, vision and leadership that makes ESPN such a remarkable place to do my job. Also, a thank you to my representative Matt Kramer for helping to bring and keep me at ESPN.”
