Behind The ScenesNFL

Talent producer Jaclyn Aronson gets newsworthy NFL guests

Jaclyn Aronson on the set of NFL Live. (Courtesy Jaclyn Aronson)
Jaclyn Aronson on the set of NFL Live. (Courtesy Jaclyn Aronson)

Jaclyn Aronson is closing in on a perfect NFL season booking players and other live guests on ESPN’s Sunday studio programs.

The ESPN talent producer is in her first full season as the staffer primarily responsible for getting NFL newsmakers on most of the company’s studio shows – Sunday NFL Countdown, SportsCenter, NFL Live, First Take, His and Hers, and more.

Through 19 NFL Sundays (17 regular-season and two postseason), Aronson has secured at least one player each week as a live guest on either the Sunday morning SportsCenter or Sunday NFL Countdown.

Payton, Landry slated to visit Bristol

Jaclyn Aronson will close out an outstanding roster of NFL regular and postseason bookings on ESPN shows this Conference Championship Sunday with New Orleans Saints’ Super Bowl XLIV-winning coach Sean Payton on Postseason NFL Countdown at 1 p.m. ET. Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jarvis Landry will make live Sunday morning SportsCenter appearances at 8 a.m. and 11 a.m.

Some of the players who made the NFL Sunday trip to Bristol during the season include: Aaron Donald (Rams), Ricky Jean-Francois (Redskins), Dwight Freeney (Cardinals), Josh Norman (Panthers), Kyle Rudolph (Vikings), Geoff Schwartz (Giants), Golden Tate (Lions), Benjamin Watson (Saints), Eric Winston (Bengals), and more.

This Sunday, leading into the NFL Conference Championship games, New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton will join the Postseason NFL Countdown crew on ESPN at 1 p.m. ET, while Dolphins wide receiver Jarvis Landry will be live on SportsCenter at 8 and 11 a.m. Aronson’s “record” should improve to 20-0.

“Jaclyn is having a great season. She is passionate about making a positive contribution to our shows, whether it is Countdown, NFL Live or SportsCenter,” said Seth Markman, ESPN senior coordinating producer for NFL studio programming. “Her professionalism is an invaluable asset to the show producers, the NFL personalities and their representatives.”

While this is Aronson’s first year as ESPN’s NFL talent producer, she is anything but a novice. A former ESPN stage manager, Aronson spent the last two years (2013-15) as a segment producer with Good Morning America, where she honed her skills in the wily art of show-booking on the popular morning news, information and interview show.

“Some say I’m competitive, but that’s my background coming from a very competitive morning show, Good Morning America, and ABC News,” said Aronson. “It’s true, I want the first interview, the exclusive. After an amazing win, I want that player at ESPN or on-camera for ESPN the next day.”

Aronson’s hustle paid off Sunday, Nov. 29, following the Carolina Panthers’ Thanksgiving night victory over the Dallas Cowboys. The then 11-0 Panthers were the talk of the league, and three days later over the holiday weekend, she booked defensive leaders Josh Norman and Thomas Davis as live in-studio guests for SportsCenter, NFL Insiders: Sunday Edition and Sunday NFL Countdown.

After Sunday’s games, Aronson will turn her focus towards Super Bowl 50 where she’ll lead the team of talent producers responsible for securing live guests on all ESPN shows originating from San Francisco.

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