ESPN will debut “Big Day with Peter Schrager” on Thursday, airing weekdays at 2 p.m., as the network attempts to build its first homegrown star in more than a decade.
Schrager joins a short list of ESPN personalities with shows built specifically around them heading into 2026, alongside Pat McAfee, Stephen A. Smith, Mike Greenberg and Scott Van Pelt.
He will also be the first personality under ESPN executive Burke Magnus’ leadership to receive this kind of push. ESPN did not develop McAfee in-house — he was already a star before signing with the network, which licensed his show in a then-record-setting deal after struggling for years to create stars internally. Personalities the network previously tried to elevate, including Bomani Jones, Sarah Spain, Katie Nolan, Monica McNutt, Jemele Hill, Michael Smith and Mina Kimes, never achieved similar leverage.
Schrager’s approach differs from that group. He fits ESPN’s stated preference for upbeat, enthusiastic sports coverage rather than combative or polarizing commentary. Last month, ESPN executive Mike Foss told staff during a town hall that the company wants to move away from “hot takes.”
Schrager also brings a background in NFL reporting, giving him more subject-matter depth than some personalities ESPN has tried to build around in the past.
Questions remain
Despite the promising setup, concerns linger — including around the executive steering the effort. ESPN recently hired back Stan Verrett to host a show on NFL Network, a move that drew scrutiny given Verrett’s history during his first ESPN tenure, which included controversial posts, unprofessional messages to reporters and contentious on-air comments about race.
ESPN did not deny that Magnus may have felt pressure to make that hire after former ESPN host Ryan Clark, following his firing, made unfounded accusations of racism involving Magnus.
Critics of the network’s direction point to a broader pattern: many ESPN programs feature rotating panelists that can overshadow the shows’ central hosts. “Get Up” is now cited as an example, with commentary suggesting the show has become more centered on panelists Chris Canty and Chiney Ogwumike than host Greenberg.
Schrager has also faced criticism for not pushing back forcefully against contentious arguments made by guests. During Super Bowl week, he did not challenge NFL defensive lineman Cam Jordan when Jordan argued that Lamar Jackson has a better postseason resume than Josh Allen, a claim critics say is unsupported by the record.
Observers note that NFL Live has posted double-digit growth while First Take has been stagnant, arguing that audiences are gravitating toward positive sports coverage over polarizing debate.
A long runway
Most of ESPN’s biggest current stars are around 60 years old, including Smith, Greenberg and Van Pelt. Schrager, 44, could have a long career ahead alongside McAfee, 39. Other potential future ESPN stars include Laura Rutledge, 37, Josh Pate, 40, and Malika Andrews, 31.
ESPN has not successfully built a star from within its own ranks since Stephen A. Smith rose to prominence in 2015. Whether Schrager can break that decade-long drought remains to be seen when his show launches Thursday.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login