Todd McShay Announces He's Taking Leave from ESPN to Focus on His Health

Adam WellsSeptember 7, 2021

GLENDALE, AZ - JANUARY 01: ESPN sideline reporter Todd McShay reports before the college football game between the UCF Knights and the LSU Tigers on January 1, 2019 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Kevin Abele/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Kevin Abele/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

ESPN NFL draft and college football analyst Todd McShay is stepping away from the network for a period of time.

McShay announced on Twitter he is taking a leave of absence to focus on his health:

Todd McShay @McShay13
I am going to take some time away to focus on my health and my family. Thank you ESPN for being so supportive and for all the well wishes - I can’t wait to be back on the sidelines soon.

McShay was part of the ABC broadcast crew for Saturday's game between Alabama and Miami at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

During one of his hits on the telecast about Alabama offensive lineman Evan Neal, fans expressed their concern on social media as McShay appeared to be disoriented.

This echoed a similar incident last season during a Wisconsin-Northwestern broadcast. McShay was pulled from the broadcast after struggling to deliver a sideline report about the Badgers offense.

Sean McDonough, who was doing play-by-play for the Wisconsin-Northwestern game, said during the broadcast that McShay left due to an illness.

McShay has worked for ESPN since 2006. The 44-year-old's primary responsibilities have been as an NFL draft analyst, alongside Mel Kiper Jr., providing in-depth scouting reports on the best prospects.

He became a regular sideline contributor on the network's college football broadcasts starting in 2014.

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