ESPN reporter Laura Rutledge has opened up about her fear that becoming a mother would derail her television career, sharing her emotional journey on a recent podcast appearance.
A Fear of Losing Everything
The 37-year-old television host, married to former MLB player Josh Rutledge, is a mother to two children: daughter Reese, born in 2019, and son Jack. Despite the joy of starting a family, Rutledge admitted that her initial reaction to her first pregnancy was far from happy. In a Mother's Day special episode of The Pivot podcast, she revealed, "There was a long time where I thought it wouldn't be possible to be a mom and also do this." She explained that she and her husband were married for seven years before having children, and when she finally became pregnant while hosting SEC Nation on the SEC Network, she felt conflicted.
"I'll never forget finding out that I was pregnant and being so disappointed, which is the worst thing," she confessed. "I was disappointed because I thought this was going to end my career. I'm building all this momentum... I can't be on TV pregnant." During her pregnancy, she worked tirelessly, attending as many events as possible before what she assumed would be the end of her high-profile career.
Career Growth Beyond Expectations
Contrary to her fears, Rutledge's career flourished after becoming a mother. She is now widely respected as one of the most accomplished reporters in sports media. In 2020, between the births of her children, she became the host of ESPN's NFL Live, and five years later, she joined Monday Night Football as a full-time sideline reporter.
During the podcast, Rutledge became emotional as she reflected on Mother's Day, describing herself as "blessed with the most amazing people." She added, "How could I ever think that career was more important than what this is, and knowing this feeling? It is the greatest joy of my life to celebrate Mother's Day [with my kids] and to hear their little voices." Her heartfelt words even moved former NFL linebacker and podcast co-host Channing Crowder to tears, who joked, "I'm mad you made me cry, Laura."
Today, Rutledge lives in Connecticut with her husband Josh, who played for the Colorado Rockies and Boston Red Sox, and their two children.
