ESPN’s Laura Rutledge Goes Viral for Relatable Pajamas Video Before ‘Monday Night Football’

ESPN sportscaster Laura Rutledge was the subject of a viral social media moment over the weekend when her husband, former Major League Baseball player Josh Rutledge, posted a funny video of her getting ready for bed in pajamas before her ‘Monday Night Football’ broadcast.

Before Monday Nite Football, Josh Rutledge’s wife, ESPN’s Laura Rutledge, went viral for an Instagram video of her stuffing snacks into her pajama pockets. Fans enjoyed the relatable behind-the-scenes look at the broadcaster’s grueling travel schedule, to which Rutledge responded with humor.

Josh Rutledge’s wife, Laure, posted an Instagram video of Josh getting ready for bed late at night over the weekend. In the video, Laura Rutledge is filling the pockets of her pajamas with snacks in anticipation of an early travel day.

Josh Rutledge captioned the post ‘Love my little chipmunk,’ cheekily highlighting the mundane moment.

Instead of brushing off the playful tease, Laura Rutledge responded directly. She replied to her husband’s comment, “Omg lollll but honestly that pocket comes in handy.

The back-and-forth resonated with viewers, racking up thousands of likes in a short span and inspiring a flurry of supportive comments from NFL fans. Viewers said the moment felt relatable, unlike the standard sports broadcasters are held to in their on-air wardrobe choices. “The pockets aren’t just for show! “Use ’em!” another fan said. “That’s a veteran move right there,” added another.

Laura Rutledge has a busy schedule during the NFL season. She also hosts NFL Live and serves as the sideline reporter for ESPN’s flagship Monday Night Football broadcasts.

The viral moment happened just before she was assigned to cover the NFC South divisional matchup between the Atlanta Falcons and New Orleans Saints. This game had big storylines, including the Saints returning to the Superdome for the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina.

The clip provided a rare glimpse behind the curtain of a sports broadcaster’s travel schedule, flipping the usual narrative of a television personality’s appearance by posting a raw, unremarkable moment.

The video seems minor, but its virality suggests a shift in how audiences consume sports media personalities. Fans want behind-the-scenes content to be authentic, not like the overly produced segments in the studio. The positive reception suggests audiences appreciate public figures sharing relatable, everyday moments, humanizing broadcasters typically seen only in polished, professional contexts.

Laura Rutledge is expected to continue with her usual duties at ESPN, appearing on “NFL Live” and “Monday Night Football.” But there is no indication that the viral moment will be addressed formally on air, as it remains a social media exchange between two people.