Laura Okmin’s Shocking Exit from Fox: The Bold Move Behind Her Surprising Career Shift Revealed

After more than two decades of calling the NFL sidelines home, Laura Okmin has made a bold choice to step away from Fox Sports, turning down a fresh contract to chase a new dream. Honestly, it’s the kind of pivot that makes you stop and think—when you’ve been doing something for so long, figuring out when the curtain closes is no small feat. Okmin, who ranks as the third-longest tenured sideline reporter in NFL history, isn’t just walking away—she’s steering her energy toward GALvanize, the initiative she founded to uplift and mentor women in sports journalism. And while Fox loses a familiar voice, the postseason—and yes, the Super Bowl—will still hear her insights via Westwood One radio. It’s a departure tinged with nostalgia, surprise, and a fresh burst of purpose. Intriguing, isn’t it? LEARN MORE

NFL sideline reporter Laura Okmin is leaving Fox Sports of her own accord, having turned down a new contract, she told Front Office Sports.“They sent me the contract. I printed it out. I sat there. It was just my voice saying, ‘It’s time; this is it,’” Okmin told Front Office Sports. “I called my boss and my friend, Jacob Ullman, who I’ve known as long as I’ve been at Fox Sports. I’m happy to say he was very surprised. I would have been very disappointed if there was any other reaction. It was a really nice call, because I got to have it with my boss and my friend.”Okmin worked on a team with play-by-play announcer Kevin Kugler and game analyst Daryl “Moose” Johnston in 2024.She joined Fox in 2002 as a host, anchor and reporter and has covered more than 20 Super Bowls.The third-longest-tenured sideline reporter in NFL history said she wants to focus on her company, GALvanize, which teaches and mentors women sports journalists. She will continue to cover the NFL in the postseason, including the Super Bowl, for the Westwood One radio network.Fox’s Pam Oliver and the retired Michele Tafoya are the only sideline reporters believed to have worked more NFL games as a sideline reporter, according to Front Office Sports.