“Heartbreak”: Hall of Famer & NFL Analyst Rich Eisen Mourn Tragic Death of Popular ESPN Personality

It’s a sad day for the sports community. Beloved trivia master and ESPN producer Howie Schwab passed away. Longtime friend Dick Vitale posted on X announcing his demise after receiving word from Howie’s wife, Suzie. Howie Schwab was aged 63 when he died and had been facing health issues for quite sometime. Several NFL analysts and other sports personalities have reacted to the unfortunate news.

Howie Schwab was a sports genius and appeared on ‘Stump the Schwab’ from 2004 to 2006. He joined ESPN in 1987 and appeared on various shows in addition to the trivia special ‘Stump the Schwab’. The NFL and sports community mourned his demise.

Dick Vitale and NFL analyst Rich Eisen pay tribute

While breaking the news, American sportscaster Dick Vitale wrote, “OMG -just rec’d word that my buddy for several decades who helped me so much in my career @howieschwab passed this morning . Just received the news from his loving wife Suzie. May he RIP!” Rich Eisen, the NFL analyst and host of ‘The Rich Eisen Show’, also reacted to the demise of Howie Schwab. Eisen expressed that the beloved sports personality’s death was “a total heartbreak”.

Bruce Feldman, an ESPN NFL writer, paid tribute to Howie Schwab on X. Feldman wrote, “Devastated to learn that Howie Schwab has passed away. Howie was the real spirit of ESPN. No one in Bristol loved sports—or cared about sports—more than Howie. He made the place much smarter, and better.” Feldman further mentioned Schwab’s contributions to his career, and added, “I am grateful that Howie gave me a chance in the summer of 1994, when he was about to launch what later became http://espn.com. He saw something in me when no one else did. RIP”. 

Howie’s impact on ESPN, as well as the individuals working there, is irrefutable. Schwab is probably the most popular for ‘Stump the Schwab’, a show where contestants had to face off against the trivia master and defeat him to win. A ‘kind, caring and welcoming soul’, as described by Rich Eisen, Howie Schwab’s death, has left a hole in the hearts of the NFL and the sports community.