Atlanta - UPI
Erin Andrews is set to replace Pam Oliver this coming NFL season in the No. 1 sideline reporter position, Oliver told Sports Illustrated.
Oliver will no longer be on the sideline at all, and instead will join the team of Kevin Burkhardt and John Lynch. It will be her last year with Fox.
The upcoming season would have been her 20th as the top sideline reporter with the network.
"To go from the lead crew to no crew was a little shocking," Oliver said. "I said I wanted to do a 20th year [on the sidelines]. I expressed to them that I was not done and had something to offer. Again, I think it was predetermined coming in. Not at that meeting, but two years ago it was determined that no matter what I did or did not do, a change would be made for this year."
Fox Sports President Eric Shanks said the network has made numerous changes with NFL reporters, this being one of them.
"We have made changes to keep our coverage across the board fresh, including the addition of Burkhardt and Lynch -– which has been one of the more exciting pairings we have put together. This is kind of the next move in that evolution," he said.