Picture this: the NFL sidelines, where testosterone-fueled athletes collide like Avengers in battle. Now, imagine someone equally fierce holding her own mic, not afraid to challenge norms while sprinkling in a little humor. Enter Charissa Thompson—FOX sports broadcaster, podcast queen, and overall baddie. Known for her candid charm and razor-sharp wit, she’s been redefining sports media with the kind of flair that would make even Tony Romo blush.

But it’s not just about touchdowns and replays for Charissa. Recently, she dropped some serious wisdom on her “Calm Down” podcast with fellow trailblazer Erin Andrews. “Turning 40 soon,” Charissa began, with the kind of swagger that says age is just a number, honey. And no, she didn’t stop there. “What’s the best thing about being in your fabulous forties?” she teased. “Laura, let me tell you. I think it’s just acceptance of self.”

As the big 4-0 approaches, as life truly is, Charissa is rolling with confidence, not regrets. On her Instagram story, she summed it up succinctly: “40’s is the absolute best. You know yourself, you know what you don’t want, and no more bull@&$&.” It’s spoken like a woman who’s spent enough time in press boxes and has zero time for anything less than real.

So back in the past, Charissa’s career began with grit, a trait evident since her early days at the University of California, Santa Barbara. After earning a Bachelor’s in Law and Society in 2004, she joined Fox Sports in human resources but worked her way into the network’s highlights department during her after-hours. By 2007, her on-air career kicked off with Fox Sports Net Rocky Mountain. Over the years, she transitioned from local hosting gigs to anchoring NHL studio coverage for Versus, reporting on global events like the FIFA World Cup, and eventually co-hosting ESPN’s SportsNation. Today, as a familiar face on Fox NFL Kickoff and NFL Films Presents, Charissa Thompson continues to dominate sports media with her signature charisma.

“It’s, you know, you are not trying as hard… you’re hopefully establishing your career. And if you aren’t, maybe you’re even changing careers because you’re deciding that that career you had, you don’t like.” Her words hit like a perfectly placed pass to Travis Kelce. Charissa’s point? The forties come with freedom. Freedom from nonsense, freedom from the people who don’t matter (bye, Felicia), and freedom to unapologetically live life like Gronk at a Super Bowl after-party.

Charissa Thompson: A dynamic duo with Erin Andrews

If Charissa Thompson is the Patrick Mahomes of sports journalism, Erin Andrews is her Travis Kelce—unstoppable, dynamic, and always in sync. Together, the two have turned their “Calm Down” podcast into a playbook for life’s lessons, mixing humor with hard truths. Unfiltered, self-deprecating, real conversations. Erin once said, “Success doesn’t happen overnight. Keep your eye on the prize and don’t look back.” It’s advice that clearly resonates with Charissa, who has built a career on resilience and reinvention.

The journey to self-acceptance hasn’t been without its curveballs, though. Earlier in her career, Charissa faced professional backlash during her early career days when her honesty about creating fake sideline stories caused a major stir within the sports media industry. Experienced quarterbacks understand that the game continues beyond recovering from a fumble. After owning her past errors, she bounced back stronger, demonstrating a level of resilience that rivals Mahomes’ comfort in the pocket.

And let’s not forget their chemistry on and off the field. Whether rocking faux-fur coats during the NFC Championship or delivering hard-hitting interviews, these two redefine what it means to be women in a male-dominated industry. As Erin once put it, “Being a woman in a male-dominated industry, you are so afraid of people thinking you are weak.” But with Charissa by her side, Erin knows they’re anything but.

Charissa Thompson’s message on aging and self-acceptance is a game-changer. She’s proof that life, like the NFL, gets better with a good playbook, solid teammates, and a lot of grit. So, here’s to Charissa—forty and fabulous, with no plans of slowing down. As she so perfectly put it, “With forties comes freedom.”