ESPN Poaches NFL Director Artie Kempner From Fox Sports

ESPN recently made a significant move in its sports broadcasting lineup by hiring award-winning director Artie Kempner from Fox Sports to take over as the director of Monday Night Football. This decision, announced around March 17, 2025, reflects ESPN's strategic efforts to elevate its NFL game presentation, particularly with an eye toward its first-ever Super Bowl broadcast scheduled for February 14, 2027.

Kempner brings an impressive resume to ESPN. With over three decades at Fox Sports, he has directed high-profile events, including two Super Bowls—Super Bowl XXXIX (Eagles vs. Patriots) and Super Bowl XLII (Giants vs. Patriots)—making him one of only 12 living directors with such experience. His tenure at Fox also included serving as the No. 2 NFL director and the lead director for NASCAR coverage, where he helmed 17 Daytona 500 broadcasts. A 12-time Sports Emmy Award winner, Kempner’s expertise spans a wide range of sports, from NFL and NASCAR to golf, tennis, college sports, and even Olympic coverage during his earlier years at CBS and NBC.

Artie Kempner

The hiring came about when ESPN President of Content Burke Magnus learned that Kempner’s contract with Fox was nearing its end. Magnus saw an opportunity to bring in a seasoned talent to bolster Monday Night Football, especially as the network prepares for the Super Bowl, which will be produced under Disney’s umbrella. Kempner replaces Derek Mobley, who directed Monday Night Football for the past two seasons and will remain with ESPN, likely transitioning back to a college football role. This marks the third director change for the program in seven years, a relatively rapid turnover compared to the stability seen at other major networks like NBC, Fox, and CBS.

A key factor in Kempner’s appeal is his prior collaboration with ESPN’s Monday Night Football broadcasters Joe Buck and Troy Aikman, whom he worked with extensively at Fox. Buck and Aikman, now in their fourth season of a lucrative five-year, $165 million combined contract with ESPN, previously teamed up with Kempner for significant broadcasts, including the memorable 2008 Super Bowl where the Giants upset the undefeated Patriots. Magnus has emphasized that this move was his initiative, not a directive from Buck or Aikman, though the reunion is seen as a natural fit.

Magnus has been candid about his motivations, admitting that ESPN’s game presentation has lagged behind competitors like Fox and CBS. He views Kempner as a critical addition to close that gap, stating, “Here is a guy who can elevate our game presentation.” With the Super Bowl on the horizon, ESPN aims to use the next two seasons to refine its approach, ensuring a standout performance in what Magnus calls potentially “the biggest moment in the history of ESPN.”

Kempner’s departure from Fox Sports also impacts its NASCAR coverage, where he was a fixture. His move to ESPN underscores the network’s aggressive push to strengthen its NFL offerings, leveraging his proven track record to enhance both the regular season and the high-stakes Super Bowl broadcast ahead.