NFL media is getting another digital option as familiar voices from ESPN’s football coverage prepare to reunite in a new setting. Trey Wingo is bringing together several former colleagues for a weekly program built around game analysis rather than a traditional network format.
The lineup has already caught the interest of fans, many of whom see the project as an alternative to today’s sports-media model.
Trey Wingo Reuniting Former ESPN Stars for New YouTube Show
Wingo is teaming up with Merril Hoge, Mark Schlereth, and Damien Woody for “The OG Football Show,” a weekly YouTube and podcast program that debuts September 7 with an NFL season preview.
The show will return each Monday to break down four of the previous day’s best games and is scheduled to continue through Super Bowl LXI.
The announcement immediately drew comparisons on X to ESPN’s current NFL programming.
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One fan welcomed the familiar lineup while taking a shot at a prominent media personality and former player, writing, “As long as Ryan Clark isn’t in the lineup, I’ll give it a shot.”
As long as Ryan Clark isn’t in the lineup I’ll give it a shot
— TC (@TCDolfan) September 1, 2026
Another viewer focused less on individual personalities and more on the network itself, saying, “I will 100% watch this over ESPN.”
I will 100% watch this over ESPN
— Andy Bell (@andybelltron) September 1, 2026
This sentiment was followed by a broader call for a different kind of football coverage. “Love it. About time someone takes out ESPN. Let’s do real sports,” a fan wrote, reflecting the appetite among some viewers for more football-focused discussion.
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The return of former ESPN personalities is also a major part of the appeal. One fan singled out Woody, writing, “I’ll watch just for Damien Woody. He was one of my favorites on ESPN.”
Another simply declared, “This will be better than ESPN.”
I’ll watch just for Damien Woody. He was one of my favorites on ESPN
— Tish (@tish________) September 2, 2026
The crew’s promise of a straightforward football program also has viewers watching closely. Wingo has promoted the show around the idea of “No bits. No agendas. Just ball,” leading one fan to write, “If they actually make it no agenda, then it might be good, that’s what they are advertising.”
Still, some viewers are keeping expectations measured as the independent project gets started. “This could be great. Could be. If done right and brought to the public properly,” one fan wrote, pointing to the challenge of building an audience without a major television network behind the show.
Another viewer was already sold on the football knowledge in the lineup, writing, “Mark Schlereth is such a great football mind, so are the others! ‘The OG Football Crew (Show)’ will debut with an NFL season preview Sept. 7, with the show continuing through the Super Bowl.”
Wingo previously teased the reunion by saying he was “putting the band back together.” Now, the former ESPN group will have a chance to see whether its chemistry translates into a successful independent football show.
