# Jenn Brown
**Jenn Brown** (Jennifer Lynne Brown, born 1981) is an American sports broadcaster, television host, producer, and journalist, a two-time Emmy Award winner known for sideline reporting on ESPN's college football coverage, hosting *American Ninja Warrior*, and serving as the first female correspondent for *Inside the NFL*.[1](https://jennbrown.com/) • [2](https://www.franchising.com/amp/news/20110928_espn_emmy_awardwinning_sports_broadcaster_jenn_bro.html)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name / born | Jennifer Lynne Brown, born 1981 in Florida; grew up in Orlando[3](https://www.famousbirthdays.com/people/jenn-brown.html) |
| Signature roles | Sideline reporter for ESPN's Thursday Night College Football Primetime; host of *American Ninja Warrior*; first female correspondent for *Inside the NFL*[1](https://jennbrown.com/) • [4](https://www.si.com/college/2013/03/06/jenn-brown-leaves-espn) |
| ESPN tenure | Freelance correspondent from 2006, full time February 2010, departure confirmed March 2013[4](https://www.si.com/college/2013/03/06/jenn-brown-leaves-espn) |
| Other network work | Two years as NFL Network studio host and reporter; UFC studio host on *UFC Now*; Bellator MMA coverage on Spike[5](https://www.primevideo.com/person/Jenn-Brown/amzn1.dv.gti.8e4212d2-92f1-40b0-858f-33edb4d7843d/ref%3Datv_dp_md_pp) |
| Awards | Two-time Emmy Award-winning sports broadcaster[2](https://www.franchising.com/amp/news/20110928_espn_emmy_awardwinning_sports_broadcaster_jenn_bro.html) |
| Education | University of Florida, summa cum laude, criminology; walk-on who became captain of the Gators softball team[1](https://jennbrown.com/) |
| Audio work | *Breaking Justice: The Cain Velasquez Story* and *Next Level: From College to the Pros Featuring Brian Branch* on Amazon's Audible; podcast *Playing Dirty: Sports Scandals* with Dan Patrick and iHeartRadio[1](https://jennbrown.com/) |
## Early life and athletics
Brown grew up in an athletic household in [Orlando, Florida](https://www.edgepedia.org/orlando-florida); her parents were gymnastics coaches who trained Olympians.[3](https://www.famousbirthdays.com/people/jenn-brown.html) • [6](https://www.self.com/story/espn-reporter-jenn-brown) She was a junior Olympic diver and participated in seven sports in high school, where she set a school record by earning 14 varsity letters in four years, the most by any athlete, male or female, and captained five sports in her senior year.[1](https://jennbrown.com/) • [5](https://www.primevideo.com/person/Jenn-Brown/amzn1.dv.gti.8e4212d2-92f1-40b0-858f-33edb4d7843d/ref%3Datv_dp_md_pp) She was inducted into Bishop Moore High School's Athletic Hall of Fame on October 14, 2010.[5](https://www.primevideo.com/person/Jenn-Brown/amzn1.dv.gti.8e4212d2-92f1-40b0-858f-33edb4d7843d/ref%3Datv_dp_md_pp)
At the [University of Florida](https://www.edgepedia.org/university-of-florida) she earned an academic scholarship and walked on to the Gators softball team, making the roster, earning a letter in all four years, and serving as team captain in her senior year while graduating summa cum laude with a degree in criminology.[1](https://jennbrown.com/) She finished third all-time in career stolen bases at the school.[5](https://www.primevideo.com/person/Jenn-Brown/amzn1.dv.gti.8e4212d2-92f1-40b0-858f-33edb4d7843d/ref%3Datv_dp_md_pp)
## Path into broadcasting
Brown originally intended to become a sports agent and applied to 17 law schools, but after taking a year off to apply she was instead offered the chance to host a travel show and moved to Los Angeles; she has said the unopened law school acceptance letters remain in a box at her mother's house in Orlando.[7](https://texags.com/s/6618/in-studio-espns-jenn-brown-talks-all-things-aggieland) • [5](https://www.primevideo.com/person/Jenn-Brown/amzn1.dv.gti.8e4212d2-92f1-40b0-858f-33edb4d7843d/ref%3Datv_dp_md_pp) Her early television work was in entertainment: she hosted the HDNet travel program *The Wild Side*, worked on E!'s online news show *E! News Now* in 2008, appeared as an entertainment correspondent on CNN Showbiz Tonight and *Chelsea Lately*, and co-hosted ABC's prime-time competition show *The Superstars* in the summer of 2009.[3](https://www.famousbirthdays.com/people/jenn-brown.html) • [2](https://www.franchising.com/amp/news/20110928_espn_emmy_awardwinning_sports_broadcaster_jenn_bro.html)
## ESPN and sports broadcasting career
Brown first joined ESPN as a freelance correspondent in 2006 and joined full time in February 2010 as a reporter for *College GameDay*, a sideline reporter for ESPN's Thursday prime-time college football games, and a Los Angeles-based bureau reporter contributing to *SportsCenter*, *College GameDay*, and *College Football Live*.[4](https://www.si.com/college/2013/03/06/jenn-brown-leaves-espn) • [2](https://www.franchising.com/amp/news/20110928_espn_emmy_awardwinning_sports_broadcaster_jenn_bro.html) She also reported from the [College World Series](https://www.edgepedia.org/college-world-series), the [Little League World Series](https://www.edgepedia.org/little-league-world-series), the Summer and Winter X Games, the NFL Draft, and the ESPYS, and co-hosted ESPNU's college football show *RoadTrip* with Jonathan Drubner.[5](https://www.primevideo.com/person/Jenn-Brown/amzn1.dv.gti.8e4212d2-92f1-40b0-858f-33edb4d7843d/ref%3Datv_dp_md_pp)
**The Erin Andrews comparison.** When Brown took the Thursday night sideline role, media coverage frequently positioned her as a potential replacement for [Erin Andrews](https://www.edgepedia.org/erin-andrews) should Andrews leave ESPN; Brown said she did not mind the comparison and cited Andrews, Suzy Kolber, and [Holly Rowe](https://www.edgepedia.org/holly-rowe) as colleagues she studied and modeled herself after.[4](https://www.si.com/college/2013/03/06/jenn-brown-leaves-espn) • [8](https://www.startribune.com/randball-q-a-part-i-espn-s-jenn-brown-the-next-erin-andrews/102633179) In 2010 she declined an offer to appear in [Sports Illustrated](https://www.edgepedia.org/sports-illustrated)'s 2011 Swimsuit Edition, saying her new sideline role was too important.[9](https://dailycaller.com/2010/07/15/espn-jenn-brown-espns-jenn-brown-carving-her-own-path-not-erin-andrews-slideshow/)
ESPN spokesperson Mike Humes confirmed in March 2013 that Brown was no longer working for the network; her final season had been spent on ESPN's Saturday noon game with announcer Dave Pasch and analyst [Brian Griese](https://www.edgepedia.org/brian-griese), after Sam Ponder was given the Thursday Night assignment the previous year.[4](https://www.si.com/college/2013/03/06/jenn-brown-leaves-espn)
## NFL Network, combat sports, and later work
After ESPN, Brown spent two years at the [NFL Network](https://www.edgepedia.org/nfl-network) as a studio host and reporter, anchoring *NFL Total Access* and hosting *A Football Life: Backstory*.[5](https://www.primevideo.com/person/Jenn-Brown/amzn1.dv.gti.8e4212d2-92f1-40b0-858f-33edb4d7843d/ref%3Datv_dp_md_pp) She then spent about three years as a studio host for the UFC, hosting the weekly show *UFC Now*, before joining Spike's multi-platform coverage of [Bellator MMA](https://www.edgepedia.org/bellator-mma) in January 2017 as host and reporter.[5](https://www.primevideo.com/person/Jenn-Brown/amzn1.dv.gti.8e4212d2-92f1-40b0-858f-33edb4d7843d/ref%3Datv_dp_md_pp) • [10](https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwtv/article/Jenn-Brown-Joins-Spikes-Multi-Platform-Coverage-of-BELLATOR-MMA-20170125) Her broader credits include *American Ninja Warrior*, Showtime Championship Boxing, and work across ABC, NBC, ESPN, NFL Network, and Showtime Sports.[1](https://jennbrown.com/)
**Audio and production work.** Brown has moved into writing and producing documentaries and podcasts. For Amazon's Audible Network she narrated and produced *Breaking Justice: The Cain Velasquez Story* and *Next Level: From College to the Pros Featuring Brian Branch*, and she is a key contributor and one of the creative minds behind the weekly podcast *Playing Dirty: Sports Scandals* for Dan Patrick and iHeartRadio, hosted by Jay Harris, which investigates sports scandals.[1](https://jennbrown.com/) Her website describes a new project slated for Spring 2026.[1](https://jennbrown.com/)
## Health and wellness work
Brown's athletic background has supported a parallel career as a wellness advocate. In 2011 she joined GNC's LiveWell team as a brand ambassador, and she has been featured in magazine features and appearances on platforms such as *Doctor Oz*, sharing her family's approach to health.[2](https://www.franchising.com/amp/news/20110928_espn_emmy_awardwinning_sports_broadcaster_jenn_bro.html) • [1](https://jennbrown.com/) During her ESPN years she took up CrossFit after attending the 2012 Reebok CrossFit Games, and a 2011 SELF feature described her routines for staying fit while traveling five days a week during football season.[11](https://espnpressroom.com/feature/espns-jenn-brown-finds-crossfit-a-natural-for-her-busy-schedule/) • [6](https://www.self.com/story/espn-reporter-jenn-brown)
## Personal life
Brown married actor [Wes Chatham](https://www.edgepedia.org/wes-chatham) in 2012 and has two children.[3](https://www.famousbirthdays.com/people/jenn-brown.html) She has also worked as a model, appearing in an [Under Armour](https://www.edgepedia.org/under-armour) advertising campaign, and launched a jewelry line, The Jenn Brown Collection.[3](https://www.famousbirthdays.com/people/jenn-brown.html) • [4](https://www.si.com/college/2013/03/06/jenn-brown-leaves-espn)
## References
1. [Jenn Brown, Official Site](https://jennbrown.com/)
2. [ESPN Emmy Award-Winning Sports Broadcaster Jenn Brown Joins the GNC LiveWell Team, Franchising.com (September 28, 2011)](https://www.franchising.com/amp/news/20110928_espn_emmy_awardwinning_sports_broadcaster_jenn_bro.html)
3. [Jenn Brown, Famous Birthdays](https://www.famousbirthdays.com/people/jenn-brown.html)
4. [Jenn Brown leaves ESPN, Sports Illustrated (March 6, 2013)](https://www.si.com/college/2013/03/06/jenn-brown-leaves-espn)
5. [Jenn Brown, Prime Video biography](https://www.primevideo.com/person/Jenn-Brown/amzn1.dv.gti.8e4212d2-92f1-40b0-858f-33edb4d7843d/ref%3Datv_dp_md_pp)
6. [How ESPN Reporter Jenn Brown Stays Fit For Football Season, SELF (October 12, 2011)](https://www.self.com/story/espn-reporter-jenn-brown)
7. [In-studio: ESPN's Jenn Brown talks all-things Aggieland, TexAgs (October 22, 2012)](https://texags.com/s/6618/in-studio-espns-jenn-brown-talks-all-things-aggieland)
8. [RandBall Q&A Part I: ESPN's Jenn Brown, "The Next Erin Andrews", Star Tribune (September 10, 2010)](https://www.startribune.com/randball-q-a-part-i-espn-s-jenn-brown-the-next-erin-andrews/102633179)
9. [ESPN's Jenn Brown carving her own path, not Erin Andrews', The Daily Caller (July 15, 2010)](https://dailycaller.com/2010/07/15/espn-jenn-brown-espns-jenn-brown-carving-her-own-path-not-erin-andrews-slideshow/)
10. [Jenn Brown Joins Spike's Multi-Platform Coverage of BELLATOR MMA, Broadway World (January 25, 2017)](https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwtv/article/Jenn-Brown-Joins-Spikes-Multi-Platform-Coverage-of-BELLATOR-MMA-20170125)
11. [ESPN's Jenn Brown finds CrossFit a natural for her busy schedule, ESPN Press Room (September 28, 2012)](https://espnpressroom.com/feature/espns-jenn-brown-finds-crossfit-a-natural-for-her-busy-schedule/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Society and history › Broadcasting and journalism › Broadcast organizations and stations › Broadcasters as people › Sports announcers and team broadcasters*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license