LAURA OKMIN has abruptly called time on her illustrious Fox Sports career.
The veteran NFL sideline reporter has stunned American football fans by walking away from the gig after a whopping 23 years.
Veteran NFL reporter Laura Okmin has abruptly decided to leave Fox Sports[/caption]
The 53-year-old leaves the network after a whopping 23 years[/caption]
Okmin, who is regarded by many to be the gold standard when it comes to sideline reporting, was offered the opportunity to extend her stay with the network.
But the 53-year-old turned down the deal on the table after deciding it was the right time to move on to pastures new.
She told Front Office Sports: “They sent me the contract. I printed it out.
“I sat there. It was just my voice saying, ‘It’s time, this is it.’
“I called my boss and my friend Jacob Ullman, who I’ve known as long as I’ve been at Fox Sports.
“I’m happy to say he was very surprised. I would have been very disappointed if there was any other reaction.
“It was a really nice call, because I got to have it with my boss and my friend.”
Okmin won’t totally disappear from our airwaves and screens as she’ll continue covering the NFL post-season, as well as the Super Bowl, for the Westwood One radio network.
Laura Okmin began her sports journalism journey over 30 years ago[/caption]
Okmin, who was the third-longest serving sideline reporter, will now focus her attention on guiding the next generation of aspiring female reporters through her GALvanize company.
Okmin – who began her sports reporting journey over 30 years ago – joined Fox in 2002.
She helped spearhead the network’s coverage of the 2012 and 2014 Olympics in London and Sochi.
Before joining Fox, she had spells with TNT Sports, CNN and SportsChannel in Chicago during the Bulls’ historic ’90s run.
Okmim has reported on over 20 Super Bowls, and the total number of NFL games she’s covered is only dwarfed by former Fox colleague Pam Oliver and the retired Michele Tafoya.
Okmin – a former colleague of Erin Andrews – will look back fondly on her career but won’t miss the ruthless side of the business.
She said: “Honestly, it’s a tough job having to justify your job for 20 years.
“Having to fight for your job and having to justify it. It feels like there’s a bit of dog years with that job.
“There’s a wonderfulness that comes with it. But also a lot of other s**t.”
