There is a brand new sideline reporter in town for ESPN’s “Monday Night Football” coverage. It was revealed on Tuesday that Katie George will be part of the NFL‘s MNF crew for five games this season, making her debut in Week 2 as part of ESPN’s doubleheader. Katie George has been named a sideline reporter for ESPN’s MNF coverageGettyThis is not an entirely new hire, as the former Louisville volleyball ACC Player of the Year has been covering football since 2019, whilst she has also been a regular on NBA telecasts – both roles of which she will continue in. Nonetheless, the appointment has been a hugely popular one, with fans flooding to social media to congratulate and give their opinion on the Emmy winner, who was recognized with the award due to her role on ESPN’s SEC on ABC college football coverage. “Katie George went from local news anchor to ESPN sideline reporter. Love to see it,” one fan wrote on X.“Congrats Katie. You do a awesome job on everything,” another fan wrote. Former Louisville Director of Athletics Vince Tyra also commented, posting “Proud of you @Katie_George05. Great move by ESPN.”The 31-year-old joins Peter Schrager, formerly of FOX and NFL Network, on the game coverage where MNF has multiple games. ESPN extend Salters and promotes RutledgeFurthermore, the newly extended Lisa Salters and promotion of Laura Rutledge – the host of NFL Live – to an “elevated” sideline role, ensures that there are two sideline reporters for all 25 NFL on ESPN games, per their press report. “Monday Night Football’s Joe Buck, Troy Aikman and Lisa Salters welcome Rutledge to all their telecasts (20 games), while George and Schrager join Chris Fowler, Dan Orlovsky and Louis Riddick for five games – the four weeks Monday Night Football has multiple games (Weeks 2, 4, 6 and 7) and the Doubleheader Saturday in Week 18.”Salters is one of ESPN’s most esteemed journalists and longest-tenured sideline reporter having been in her role with the telecaster for coming up to 14 seasons.Rutledge, on the other hand, agreed to a multi-year contract extension to remain at ESPN in June, will also continue to host NFL Live and SEC Nation on Saturday mornings, as well as The Masters. Schrager joins George on the sidelines for the doubleheaders throughout the 2025 seasonGettySalters is ESPN’s longest-tenured sideline reporter, entering her 14th seasonGettyRutledge has been promoted for the 2025 seasonGettyFans were also thrilled to hear of the news that they’d see more of Salters and Rutledge, with one user commenting “Laura and Lisa on the new contract…this is going to be a fun year.”“Laura Rutledge is the gold standard of sideline reporters,” another fan wrote.“Congratulations to Lisa Salters. Great work, always,” a third commented.Bolstering its MNF personnel appears to be a strategic one as ESPN is ramping up its preparations with it being just two seasons away from broadcasting the Super Bowl in 2027.But these aren’t the only moves ESPN has made this summer, with it also pulling off a blockbuster billion-dollar deal to acquire NFL media assets, including beloved show RedZone, hosted by Scott Hanson. This deal comes after years of on-and-off negotiations between the two parties. In exchange, the NFL receives a 10 percent ownership stake in ESPN, which is estimated to be worth $2-3 billion. This merger did not go down well with football fans, sparking a frenzy with most people worried about the future of RedZone. The first “Monday Night Football” of the 2025 NFL season kicks off with an NFC North divisional matchup between the Chicago Bears and Minnesota Vikings at Soldier Field on September 8. Week 2 will see the first double-header of the season, with the Houston Texans taking on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at NRG Stadium before the new-look Las Vegas Raiders play host to the Los Angeles Chargers. Stay up to date with the latest from across the NFL via our talkSPORT Facebook page, and subscribe to our Endzone YouTube channel for news, views and exclusive interviews as we build up to the NFL Draft.