ESPN informs staffers how NFL Network leadership will be incorporated into company

April 1 marks NFL Network’s first full day under ESPN ownership and operation.

Tuesday, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell bid farewell to his NFL Network colleagues. On Wednesday, ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro and his senior leadership team sent a memo to all ESPN employees, welcoming the addition of NFL Network to the larger ESPN portfolio.

In a separate memo, ESPN content president Burke Magnus and EVP of programming Rosalyn Durant shared how NFL Network leadership would be incorporated into ESPN’s organizational chart.

Most notably, Charlie Yook, who spent 20 years at NFL Network and was most recently a production executive for the channel, will join ESPN as VP/Executive Producer of Content Production where he’ll continue to oversee NFL Network from its Hollywood Park location, according to the internal memo reviewed by Awful Announcing. Yook will report to Mike McQuade, ESPN’s EVP of Sports Production.

Todd Sperry, who led NFL Network’s newsroom, will join ESPN as a VP and Executive Editor focusing on NFL coverage. Sperry will report to David Roberts, who heads ESPN’s news operation and daytime studio shows like First Take. Sperry was an 11-year veteran of NFL Network, having previously worked in cable news at CNN.

Jessica Lee will join ESPN as VP, Production Operations & Engineering, overseeing the NFL Network facilities in Hollywood Park. She’s a 12-year veteran of NFL Media and will report to Chris Calcinari, an SVP of Content Operations at ESPN.

Lastly, Tony Cole, who led distribution and technical operations for NFL Network, joins ESPN as a VP, Media Operations and will also report to Calcinari.

ESPN seems to be fully embracing its new network. Several ESPN executives are said to be on-site at NFL Network’s Los Angeles studios, and will remain there over the coming days to introduce themselves to their new employees, and to offer networking opportunities. Perhaps that’s why we noticed NFL Network’s flagship morning show Good Morning Football sporting much more formal attire on Wednesday than their typical dressed-down fare.

In his memo to staffers, Pitaro expressed a full commitment to leveraging NFL Network across ESPN’s existing platforms, including linear, digital, and social. Read the full letter below:

Today, we officially welcome our NFL Network colleagues to ESPN, and we couldn’t be more excited about what this historic moment represents for our company and our future. For sports fans, it means stronger, more connected coverage — bringing together storytelling, insight and innovation to deliver enhanced football experiences across platforms and throughout the year.

We have always been at our best when talented people come together around a shared purpose. We are driven by a responsibility to serve sports fans anytime, anywhere — and that mission only becomes stronger as we bring in new voices, perspectives and expertise. The addition of our NFL Network colleagues reinforces our commitment to collaboration, creative excellence and being the very best at what we do.

ESPN’s success is built on teamwork, trust and an inclusive culture. We value thoughtful discussion, healthy debate and learning from each other. As new teammates join us, we ask everyone to lead with curiosity, openness and a collaborative spirit.

This moment also comes at an important time for ESPN. From strategic rights deals and record performance across linear, digital and social platforms, to our continued focus on innovation, quality storytelling and audience expansion — and the launch of our Direct-to-Consumer service and enhanced app — we are building for the future.

The future is bright — and we’re just getting started.