Running on a football field is one thing… Suited, all geared up. Plus, they train the players for that, too. But barreling through a sea of chaos? That’s a whole different ball game. Enter ESPN’s Molly McGrath. The sideline reporter who, much like an RB, charges through pandemonium to get her interviews.

The gear may not be as heavy as shoulder pads, but the grind is just as real. Whether it’s thigh-high boots, sneakers, or even heels, Molly’s game is about getting there FIRST. And let’s face it, no one really talks about the reporters’ running stats, do they?

Ahead of the National Championship clash between Notre Dame and Ohio State, Molly shared her wildest sideline moments on The Athletic’s Until Saturday Podcast. Asked about her craziest interview chase, she didn’t even hesitate: “Oh my goodness, there are too many to think of.” But one memory stood out—Georgia’s shocking loss to Ole Miss.

Field-storming fans, pure pandemonium, and Lane Kiffin on the far end of the gridiron. “I had to barrel through fans and players, elbows out like a running back, yelling ‘MOOOOVE,’” Molly recounted. “By the time I reached him, it was like winning my own mini Super Bowl.”

That night in Oxford was chaos personified. Fans stormed the field not once but twice, carrying goalposts through the streets like trophies of victory. And Molly? She found one of those goalposts on campus, a physical reminder of the madness. Ole Miss’ 28-10 upset over Georgia wasn’t just a win; it was a moment that defined a fanbase. And Molly, charging through the storm, was right in the thick of it.

She painted a vivid picture of the moment. Yeah, the kind of that literally sticks with you. “And you don’t have the cops by you like the coaches do to clear the way. It’s just me. On an island. If I get the interview, great. If I don’t, it’s all on me.” It’s not just the physical hustle—it’s the mental game, the pressure of delivering in the moment. And that, too, beating everyone to it. No huddle, no backup. Just grit.

So much so that her fellow ESPN reporter, Pat McAfee, even commented on one of Molly’s darting runs from last season (beating everyone to it!) and said: “Look at those boots… YOU HAVE GOT MOVES!” She sure does. Respect for that!

However, the grind is one aspect. The other? Only scrutiny. Molly McGrath’s been through that whirlwind of an experience, too.

When Molly McGrath kept it real!

Notre Dame has made its way to the National Championship, but en route, they made history. Or, well, at least Marcus Freeman did. Nonetheless, that was the team’s win, too. After all, the Fighting Irish fight and fall together, right? Molly McGrath had the chance to get a one-on-one time with Freeman after the victory against Penn State. So, obviously, she went with the question.

McGrath asked, “You are the first Black head coach to go to a national championship game in college football. How much does this mean to you?” It’s a fair question, right? But former NFL quarterback Brett Favre wasn’t a fan. He re-shared the clip with a blunt critique, saying it was a “terrible question” because it emphasized Freeman’s race over the team’s achievement.

Some agreed with Favre. Others thought McGrath was simply recognizing history.

But here’s where Freeman, true to form, dropped a mic moment. He responded, “I don’t ever want to take attention away from the team. I hope all coaches—minorities, Asians, Blacks, Whites, it doesn’t matter—great people continue to get opportunities to lead young men like this. But this ain’t about me. It’s about US.”

Boom. Class. He flipped the script, shifting focus back to the team while acknowledging the milestone in a humble way.

McGrath didn’t let the noise distract her. In fact, she was fired up. On Instagram, she posted, “Just how they want it.” The underdog mentality was alive and well in Notre Dame, and McGrath seemed to be on board, giving her take on Freeman’s leadership: “Truly one of the kindest, easiest people to work with.”

Well, that’s part and parcel of her job. And when someone like McGrath, who has been in this scene since 2011, gets a clap back like that you just know they are not fearing to take it on the chin and use it as a fuel to fire their motivation to keep going. Oh, in her case, running, scrambling, getting ‘the first thoughts’ postgame.