Due to doctor's orders, Laura Rutledge announces she's stepping away from ESPN
ESPN host and sideline reporter Laura Rutledge was already expected to miss part of this football season because of the impending arrival of her daughter. But she made an announcement on Monday that changed those plans a bit.
“Thankful for an incredible week 1 of college football! Due to doctor’s orders, I’ll be stepping away from #SECNation & @GetUpESPN to focus on our growing family, but can’t wait to be back with these guys, Greeny & the Get Up crew & all of YOU later this fall!,” she said in a tweet.
Rutledge announced earlier this year that the baby is due in October, and ESPN has said that Marty Smith would fill in for Rutledge during her maternity leave. Smith will join Paul Finebaum, Marcus Spears and Tim Tebow for the SEC Network pregame show. Smith loves college football, and his homespun personality has already engrained him with SEC fans.
Rutledge is a prominent figure on the SEC Network and ESPN, and is involved with shows like “SEC Nation,” “Get Up,” “The Paul Finebaum Show,” and covers games as a sideline reporter. She was expected to be a sideline reporter for Monday’s Oakland Raiders game against the Denver Broncos.
Thankful for an incredible week 1 of college football! Due to doctor’s orders, I’ll be stepping away from #SECNation & @GetUpESPN to focus on our growing family, but can’t wait to be back with these guys, Greeny & the Get Up crew & all of YOU later this fall! pic.twitter.com/S5dSSfVpe1
— Laura Rutledge (@LauraRutledge) September 3, 2019