Charissa Thompson and Laura Rutledge are two of the most respected sportscasters in the NFL today.

Thompson currently works with Fox Sports on “Fox NFL Kickoff” and with Amazon Prime Video as the host of “Thursday Night Football.”

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Rutledge, on the other hand, has been with ESPN for many years now. She provides sideline reports for “Monday Night Football.” She also doubles as a host for “SEC Nation” for the SEC Network.

Rutledge also hosts ESPN’s daily football show, “NFL Live.” Thompson recently shared how much she relies on “NFL Live” to help her prepare for hosting “Thursday Night Football.”

Thompson also took the time to express how much she admires Rutledge as a broadcaster and as a person.

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“I just want to say how much I love Laura Rutledge,” Thompson said in a recent episode of her “Calm Down” podcast. “I got to see her at the Masters.

I just have such a respect for her. She works so hard. She's kind. She does it the right way. She's funny. And yeah, my girl can work. I very much respect that.”

Thompson and Rutledge might be from competing networks, but the one thing these two prominent reporters have in common is their work ethic.

Football is a predominantly male sport, so female broadcasters have to work extra hard to reach the top. This is exactly what Thompson and Rutledge have done through the years with their tireless work and elite broadcasting talents.

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It is also clear that they support each other through their respective journeys. Thompson’s high praise for Rutledge is a testament to this fact.

Related: ESPN Reporter Laura Rutledge Draws Attention With Outfit for Pro Bowl Games

This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on May 7, 2026, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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