ESPN Extends Senior MLB Insider Jeff Passan in Multi-Year Deal

ESPN has locked in Jeff Passan with a multi-year contract extension, keeping him on as the network’s Senior MLB Insider. The new deal means Passan will keep breaking news, offering sharp analysis, and digging into long-form reporting across ESPN’s platforms.

He’s also set to launch his own ESPN baseball podcast, produced with Omaha Productions. Passan, who came to ESPN in 2019 after 13 years at Yahoo Sports, has become a defining voice in baseball journalism.

Now, he’s set to deepen his presence across ESPN’s written, TV, radio, and digital spaces. It’s a big move for both Passan and the network.

What the extension means for ESPN’s MLB coverage

With this agreement, ESPN is doubling down on having one of baseball’s most trusted storytellers lead its MLB coverage. Passan will keep delivering fast, accurate updates and in-depth features that dig into everything from everyday quirks to the sport’s biggest headlines.

Fans can catch his reporting on SportsCenter, Baseball Tonight, ESPN Radio, The Pat McAfee Show, or just by scrolling through ESPN’s social feeds. Basically, if you follow baseball, you’ll run into Passan’s work somewhere.

His new baseball podcast adds another layer, letting ESPN connect with fans through longer conversations and behind-the-scenes stories. It’s a way to keep the season’s narrative going and spotlight the people shaping the game.

Programs and platforms

• ESPN.com and digital platforms for breaking news and deep dives
• Television appearances on SportsCenter and Baseball Tonight
• Radio segments and appearances on ESPN networks and partnerships
• ESPN’s social platforms for timely updates and exclusive insights
• New ESPN baseball podcast produced with Omaha Productions

Passan’s track record and authority in baseball journalism

Since joining ESPN, Passan’s become known for authoritative, deeply sourced baseball reporting. His work shapes conversations around the sport, from front-page news to the stories that define a season.

He’s picked up plenty of recognition, including national honors and medals that highlight his impact on sportswriting. Passan’s a two-time National Sportswriter of the Year (2021, 2023) and won the 2022 Dan Jenkins Medal for Excellence in Sportswriting for his 2021 feature on Drew Robinson.

He wrote the New York Times bestseller The Arm and co-authored Death to the BCS, so he’s made his mark in baseball literature, too.

Award highlights and influence

• National Sportswriter of the Year (2021, 2023)
• Dan Jenkins Medal for Excellence in Sportswriting (2022) for a 2021 feature
• Author of The Arm, a New York Times bestseller
• Co-author of Death to the BCS
• Founder of the Rich Passan Sports Writing Scholarship to support aspiring sportswriters

Personal background, education, and giving back

Passan grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, and graduated from Syracuse University. These days, he’s based in the Kansas City area with his wife and two sons.

His Midwest roots bring a grounded, relatable touch to his reporting. You can see it in his storytelling and in his efforts to help new voices break into sports journalism.

Why this extension matters to fans and aspiring journalists

For fans, the extension means they’ll keep getting timely, accurate, and actually interesting baseball coverage from one of the sport’s most trusted voices. For aspiring writers, Passan’s ongoing presence — and the scholarship honoring Rich Passan — shows there’s a real path into top-tier sports journalism.

ESPN’s multi-year deal with Passan, plus the new podcast, puts the network in a spot to dig deeper into baseball and tell bigger, better stories as the season rolls on.

Jeff Passan and ESPN keep pushing the boundaries of baseball reporting. They’re delivering news, analysis, essays, and conversations that bring out the sport’s most compelling stories.

 
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