Laura Woods QUITS Sky Sports after over a decade to host ITV’s new NFL show

Laura Woods has left Sky to become the new host of the NFL show ahead of its debut on ITV. 

Woods will replace Dan Walker as host after the programme’s move from rivals the BBC, fronting a new-look presenting team alongside current hosts Osi Umenyiora and Jason Bell, who are making the transition to ITV.

ITV’s acquisition of the NFL Show was announced on Tuesday on a three-year basis as the broadcaster is set to show official coverage of the sport for the first time since 2007.  

In a statement on the NFL’s official website, Woods said: ‘I’ve been a fan of the NFL for many years, so, with the new season just weeks away, I’m thrilled to be part of the team that will bring ITV viewers its best action and biggest stories each week.’ 

New co-presenter Bell added: ‘Osi and I are excited to be working with Laura and I know that our passion and energy will be exactly what existing NFL followers expect from us, as well as opening the eyes of new fans.’

Meanwhile, former host Walker congratulated Woods on her appointment on Twitter, saying: ‘You may have seen the news about the NFL Show moving to ITV. It was always one of my favourite shows to do. 

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‘We’ll stay great friends and we’re proud of the awards the show won, the record viewing figures and stacks of lovely messages we got every week from the loyal NFL fans all over the UK. I want to wish ITV Sport all the best and I know that in Woods they have one of the best in the business.

‘It will only get better with her at the helm. I’ll be watching and, as the boys would say… “keep ballin”.’ 

The BBC had been the NFL’s free-to-air home in the UK for the last seven years, with a peak audience of 1.3million tuning in to watch LA Rams win the Super Bowl in February.

However, ITV will now screen American football’s season-ending showpiece after striking a three-year deal.

Woods spent over a decade at Sky Sports, providing coverage for both football and darts

Woods’ responsibilities will include hour-long weekly highlights shows on a Friday and three live matches – the Super Bowl and two of the season’s three London Games. ITV’s launch programme will be on September 9. 

The award-winning journalist and presenter’s move comes after more than a decade at Sky Sports, where she has presented both darts and football matches and conducted pre- and post-match interviews. 

However Woods’ departure for ITV is not the first time she has featured on the channel, having presented coverage of England Women’s football since 2021, as well as presenting TalkSPORT’s breakfast show for Mondays to Wednesdays.

ITV’s coverage of the NFL season will start on Friday September 9 at 11.30pm after the Rams’ opener against Buffalo Bills the night before.