ESPN zeroing – ESPN is focused on using Dave Pasch and Bob Wichusen as play-by-play replacements for Chris Fowler in games not handled by Joe Buck. The plan would split excess games between Pasch and Wichusen, while Jason Kelce remains in the analyst mix and ESPN’s 2026 sche
For ESPN, the NFL “B” team booth is starting to look different. The network is zeroing in on Dave Pasch and Bob Wichusen as replacements for Chris Fowler in the play-by-play role for NFL games not handled by Joe Buck.
The timing matters because of Fowler’s college football workload. ESPN’s 2026 plan includes eight non-Monday night games, seven of them televised by NFL Network. And five of those games are scheduled to be played internationally during the college football season. With Fowler having duties on Saturdays for college football, ESPN’s international slate would be impossible for him to handle.
Pasch and Wichusen are also expected to share the burden. They reportedly will split the excess games when ESPN moves forward with the revised booth assignments.
The rest of the booth picture is still being sorted out. Jason Kelce remains under consideration to serve as the game analyst for some of the games. with Kurt Warner and Louis Riddick in the mix for other games. Fowler’s seat in the booth has been part of a larger group: Fowler. Riddick. and Dan Orlovsky had been in the booth for ESPN games not assigned to Buck and Troy Aikman.
Pasch and Wichusen aren’t new to ESPN’s football world, either. Pasch currently calls college football games for ESPN, and he also handles play-by-play for Cardinals games on radio. Wichusen currently calls college football games for ESPN as well, and he does play-by-play for Jets games on radio.
ESPN NFL broadcast team Dave Pasch Bob Wichusen Chris Fowler Joe Buck Troy Aikman Jason Kelce Kurt Warner Louis Riddick international games 2026 NFL schedule college football
So they’re replacing Fowler already? man football coverage just keeps changing names every year.
I don’t get it, isn’t Joe Buck already doing everything? If ESPN’s “B team” is Pasch/Wichusen that sounds like the same guy they had last season just different hair.
Wait, Fowler can’t handle the international games because of college football Saturdays… so they just toss in two radio guys? Like why not move the college games around instead lol. Also Jason Kelce is probably only there for clicks.
Pasch and Wichusen splitting games makes sense I guess but ESPN keeps acting like the play-by-play is the problem. It’s still gonna be awkward when they go from NFL to international stuff during the same season. Fowler was on there with Riddick and Orlovsky before right? I swear I saw that booth last week. So is this like a promotion or like firing? either way it’s gonna feel weird when Kelce is “under consideration” and Warner/Riddick pop in and out.