Rich Eisen confirmed he will no longer call NFL games as a play-by-play commentator following ESPN’s acquisition of NFL Network. Eisen had called games for NFL Network since around 2018, including most of the network’s international slate.

ESPN’s Decision

Sources tell OutKick it was ESPN’s decision to remove Eisen from game broadcasts. Dave Pasch is expected to replace him on NFL Network-exclusive games. Pasch, who is leaving his role with the Arizona Cardinals, will be a significant upgrade. He is one of ESPN’s best play-by-play voices.

Eisen never reached that level. His game-calling drew consistent criticism from fans and media observers. He relied too heavily on clichés and talked over replays and the natural sounds of the game. He too often defaulted to the same phrases. Critics frequently pointed to his limited vocabulary, such as repeatedly referring to midfield as ‘the shield,’ and his tendency to call games in the passive voice.

Eisen’s Future

Despite being removed from play-by-play commentary, Eisen’s standing at ESPN is hardly in jeopardy. Even before the acquisition of NFL Network, he signed a separate deal with ESPN to carry his daily radio show on ESPN Radio and Disney+. He has also hosted several special editions of SportsCenter.

Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.