Suzy Kolber is a veteran American sports broadcaster best known for her long career at ESPN, including Monday Night Countdown and Monday Night Football. As of September 2026, she is preparing to lead a new sports interview series on the Scripps Sports Network.
Suzy Kolber Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Suzy Kolber |
| Born | May 14, 1964 |
| Age | 62 in 2026 |
| Birthplace | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| Education | University of Miami |
| Degree | B.A. in Telecommunications |
| Best known for | ESPN and NFL coverage |
| ESPN tenure | 1993–1996; 1999–2023 |
| Major role | Host of Monday Night Countdown |
| Current project | The Originals with Suzy Kolber |
Kolber’s birth date and education are widely documented, while her professional milestones are supported by ESPN-related records, sports organizations and major news outlets.
Who Is Suzy Kolber?
Suzy Kolber is an American sports broadcaster, reporter, producer and television host whose career has been closely associated with professional football.
She became one of the original anchors of ESPN2 when the network launched in 1993. After leaving ESPN for Fox Sports in the mid-1990s, she returned to ESPN in 1999 and eventually became one of the most recognizable women in the network’s NFL coverage.
Her career stood out not simply because of her longevity, but because she worked across several major parts of ESPN’s NFL operation. She covered games from the sideline, hosted studio programming and took part in major-event coverage, including the NFL Draft and Super Bowl programming.
How Old Is Suzy Kolber?
Suzy Kolber is 62 years old in 2026. She was born on May 14, 1964, in Pennsylvania. Public biographical records identify Philadelphia as her birthplace, while profiles of her early life place her in the Philadelphia-area community of Dresher and Upper Dublin.
Her age is especially notable in the context of a broadcasting career that spans several decades. In 2023, when she left ESPN, Kolber described herself as grateful for a 38-year career in broadcasting and proud of her longevity as a woman in sports media.
Where Did Suzy Kolber Go to College?
Kolber graduated from the University of Miami in 1986 with a bachelor’s degree in telecommunications. Before becoming a national television personality, she worked in local broadcasting and production roles, building experience that eventually led to ESPN.
Her earlier work included reporting, producing and directing in television and sports-related settings. That production background later became an important part of her professional identity, rather than limiting her to an on-camera role.
Suzy Kolber’s ESPN Career
Kolber joined ESPN in 1993 and became one of ESPN2’s founding on-air personalities. She left the company for Fox Sports in 1996, where she worked on sports news and NFL coverage, before returning to ESPN in late 1999.
Her second ESPN run became the defining chapter of her career.
She was part of ESPN’s prime-time NFL coverage for more than a decade, first on Sunday Night Football from 2001 to 2005 and then on Monday Night Football from 2006 to 2011. She also worked the sidelines for Super Bowl XL in 2006 and contributed to ABC Sports’ pregame coverage.
Kolber later became the host of Monday Night Countdown, taking the job in 2015 after Stuart Scott’s tenure. The program became one of her signature roles and made her a familiar presence for viewers before Monday night NFL games.
She also developed a reputation for combining on-air work with production responsibilities. That mix helped distinguish her from broadcasters whose careers were primarily centered on studio appearances.
What Awards Has Suzy Kolber Won?
Kolber has received several notable honors during her broadcasting career.
One of the most important came in 2006, when she became the first woman to receive the Maxwell Football Club’s Sports Broadcaster of the Year Award. She was also recognized by the Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters and later entered the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame in 2019.
Her Hall of Fame recognition was categorized under Legacy of Excellence, reflecting her long-term impact on sports broadcasting and the Philadelphia sports community.
These honors help explain why Kolber remained a prominent figure in NFL television even after her ESPN career ended.
Why Did Suzy Kolber Leave ESPN?
Suzy Kolber left ESPN in June 2023 as part of a wider round of layoffs involving prominent on-air personalities.
ESPN said the cuts were connected to efforts to reduce costs and meet financial targets. Kolber publicly confirmed her departure after 27 years with the network, calling the layoff heartbreaking while also expressing gratitude for her career.
The 2026 interview she gave on Sports Media with Richard Deitsch provided more detail about the experience. According to the interview coverage, Kolber discussed the emotional impact of the decision, her conversations with ESPN management and the difficulty of watching the network’s NFL programming after her departure.
Reports from that interview also say Kolber had accepted a 39% reduction in her contract before the layoff in an effort to preserve work-life balance and remain with ESPN. That figure comes from her recent account rather than an independently published ESPN compensation record, so it is best treated as her reported recollection.
What Is Suzy Kolber Doing Now?
As of September 2026, Kolber is returning to sports television in a new role with the Scripps Sports Network.
She is the host and executive producer of a new interview series titled The Originals with Suzy Kolber. The program is built around one-on-one conversations with notable sports figures whose careers or stories do not fit easily into a standard sports-media format.
The show is scheduled to premiere on September 15, 2026, at 8 p.m. ET on the Scripps Sports Network. Current promotional information says the network will be available through platforms including Roku and Amazon Fire TV, along with other distribution outlets.
The project represents a meaningful shift from the fast-paced role Kolber held at ESPN. Rather than serving primarily as a pregame or sideline reporter, she is using the new series to focus on longer-form conversations and storytelling.
Suzy Kolber’s Legacy in Sports Broadcasting
Kolber’s significance goes beyond the number of years she spent at ESPN.
She entered national sports television at a time when relatively few women occupied highly visible NFL broadcasting roles. Her career developed alongside the changing role of women in sports media, and she became one of the established figures in that transition.
Her 27 years at ESPN also gave her an unusually broad body of work. She was not limited to one program: she worked NFL sidelines, studio shows, major events, draft coverage and Super Bowl programming. That range is a large part of why her departure in 2023 attracted attention across sports media.
Her move to Scripps in 2026 adds another chapter rather than simply closing the book on her broadcasting career.
FAQs
How old is Suzy Kolber?
Suzy Kolber is 62 years old in 2026. She was born on May 14, 1964.
Is Suzy Kolber still with ESPN?
No. Kolber left ESPN in June 2023 after 27 years with the network as part of a round of layoffs.
What is Suzy Kolber doing now?
In 2026, Kolber is hosting and executive producing The Originals with Suzy Kolber, a new interview series for the Scripps Sports Network.
When did Suzy Kolber join ESPN?
Kolber first joined ESPN in 1993 as one of the original anchors of ESPN2. She later left for Fox Sports and returned to ESPN in 1999.
Did Suzy Kolber host Monday Night Countdown?
Yes. Kolber hosted Monday Night Countdown beginning in 2015 and remained in the role until her ESPN departure in 2023.
Where did Suzy Kolber go to college?
She attended the University of Miami and graduated in 1986 with a bachelor’s degree in telecommunications.
Source list
- ESPN Press Room: The Walt Disney Company Kicks Off the NFL’s Biggest Season Ever, Access Date: September 11, 2026
- Jacksonville Jaguars: Jaguars Women’s Association to host Meet Me at the 50 on Oct. 13, Access Date: September 11, 2026
- CBS News: ESPN lays off popular on-air talent in latest round of cuts, Access Date: September 11, 2026
- NBC Sports: Suzy Kolber announces she’s out at ESPN, Access Date: September 11, 2026
- Philadelphia Inquirer: Suzy Kolber, with a legacy of paving the way for women in sports broadcasting, enters the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame, Access Date: September 11, 2026
- Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame: Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame, Access Date: September 11, 2026
- MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference: Speaker Profile, Suzy Kolber, Access Date: September 11, 2026
- Apple Podcasts / Audacy: Sports Media with Richard Deitsch, Access Date: September 11, 2026
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