For someone whose career has always been grounded in the turf and tension of NFL sidelines, Charissa Thompson is about to call a play that’s literally out of this world. The mic she’s holding now? It’s not for postgame interviews—it’s for a rocket launch. And the touchdown? History. On her podcast, Calm Down, Thompson spoke with a spark in her voice that hinted at more than just a new gig—it hinted at a new era. Not just for her, but for every woman who ever watched the stars and wondered, what if?
The world’s about to witness something truly historic, and Charissa Thompson’s right in the middle of it. A few days ago, the FOX sports host, still waiting on her contract renewal, surprised her fans with a whole new kind of gig. And this one? It’s literally out of this world. “I’ve been asked by Blue Origin, which I’m very excited about, to host their historic all-female space crew. I’ve been immersed in this for the last, like, almost two months now. And I’ve already learned so much.” With that announcement on her Calm Down podcast, Thompson instantly grabbed headlines and hearts. Yes, Charissa is officially teaming up with Jeff Bezos’ aerospace company to host the launch of the NS-31 mission. What makes this even bigger? It’s the first all-women space crew since 1963.
On Sunday, Charissa Thompson dropped a sneak peek on Instagram – sharing clips of the crew and even a moment with Bezos’ fiancée, Lauren Sánchez, who’s also part of the mission as a pilot and journalist. The launch is set for Monday, April 14 at 7:00 a.m. CST. Viewers can tune in live on BlueOrigin.com. Charissa encouraged everyone to be part of the moment with a caption: “Tune into BlueOrigin.com Monday morning at 7:00am cst to witness history. The first ever all-female space crew heads into space on @blueorigin.”
She also gave a shoutout to the incredible crew, many of whom are not astronauts: Aisha Bowe, former NASA engineer; Gayle King, TV legend; Kerianne Flynn, film producer; Amanda Nguyen, civil rights icon; Katy Perry, global pop star; and of course, Lauren Sánchez. Furthermore, Charissa Thompson won’t be hosting solo on this coverage. She’ll be joined by Blue Origin’s Ariane Cornell and journalist Kristen Fisher.
This isn’t just another space launch. It’s about legacy, representation, and celebrating how far women have come – not just in space, but everywhere. Kudos to the trailblazers taking off Monday morning. We’ll be cheering you on! The sports anchor’s latest gig comes on the heels of her contract expiration with FOX!
Charissa Thompson’s contract on pause
Charissa Thompson is stepping into the space gig. But let’s come back to earth. Her time with FOX Sports? That chapter’s on pause. She’s been with the broadcast company since 2013, covering everything from NFL Kickoff to Thursday Night Football. But after Super Bowl LIX, her $100 million contract quietly ran out, with no headlines, no big announcement, and just silence. And she’s not the only one.
Erin Andrews, her Calm Down podcast co-host, is also out of contract. They’ve both been part of FOX’s backbone for years. Now? They’re figuring it out. Nevertheless, Charissa Thompson is not slowing down. As she’s heading to space, via hosting Blue Origin’s all-female launch, Thompson is ready for the history in the making. As for the future? She’s keeping it open.
During the Calm Down podcast, Thompson revealed her plans for the future. She said, “Erin and I also have an affinity for local news. There’s going to be a time in our lives. I hope it’s a retirement community in Florida or somewhere where they can roll us out and we can work like a couple days a week, and The Morning News can or anytime like the Evening News can you imagine?” But right now, she is ready to take the space!
Erin Andrews, on the other hand, is craving balance. Less hustle, more family time. She’s not rushing into anything. But if NBC, ESPN, or the NFL Network come calling and meet her price, she might just say yes!
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