Charissa Thompson has long been a fan favorite at FOX. From sideline updates to hosting Thursday Night Football, she’s been the go-to face for pregame energy, halftime insights, and those wrap-up moments fans love. Over the years, Thompson carved her lane in a fast-paced, male-dominated space, effortlessly mixing charm, knowledge, and presence. But this year brought a twist.

After the Super Bowl, her contract with FOX quietly expired. The channel has remained tight-lipped about the reporter’s contract re-signing. But the sports world doesn’t hit pause. And neither do the Emmy nominations. Speaking of which, while Charissa’s future with FOX hangs in the balance, someone else is making serious waves in the sideline scene.

The latest wave of Sports Emmy nominations just dropped, with 21 nods for Prime Video live sports and originals. Among them, Kaylee Hartung earned a nomination for Outstanding Personality/Sideline Reporter. It’s a big moment for the veteran journalist, who’s built a strong presence across major broadcasts, including Thursday Night Football. 

Kaylee has been working as a sideline reporter for Thursday Night Football on Amazon Prime Video since 2022. But TNF is far from her first big gig. Over the years, Hartung has built an impressive resume with stints at CBS News, ESPN, CNN, ABC News, and NBC Sports. In January, Taylor Rooks and longtime FOX host Charissa Thompson joined Kaylee on the sidelines for Prime Video’s NFL coverage. It was a big moment, not just for the broadcast but for Kaylee personally. “It’s the most special group of women I’ve ever gotten to consider myself part of. I feel so lucky,” she told Us Weekly in an interview. She added, “Charissa and I were friends before we were ever on Thursday Night Football together,” speaking about her connection with Charissa. 

Besides Kaylee, former QB and now one of the familiar faces of Thursday Night Football, Ryan Fitzpatrick, also scored a nomination for Outstanding Personality/Emerging On-Air Talent. He’s not alone, though. Joining him in the same category is former NFL cornerback and fellow TNF analyst Richard Sherman.

So, while Kaylee’s getting flowers for her work on the sidelines, Charissa’s making headlines of her own. But this time, for a surprising new move outside the football world.

Charissa Thompson’s next gig is out of this world

Ever since Charissa Thompson’s contract with FOX expired, her followers have been waiting on edge, wondering what her next move might be. Would she return to the network? Or was something new in the works? Well, we finally have our answer. And it’s a big one. The 42-year-old is set to join a space mission operated by Blue Origin. Yes, that’s right. 

Charissa will be reporting for the New Shepard Mission NS-31. She shared the exciting news on her IG story, writing, “Let’s goooooooo, thrilled to be joining @blueorigin for this historic launch!!!” Her story included a clip from Blue Origin introducing the hosts for the mission, and interestingly, it’s an all-female crew.

The launch is set for April 14 and marks the 11th human flight for Blue Origin’s New Shepard program. But what’s making headlines is that this one’s historic.  It’s the first all-female crew to head to space since Valentina Tereshkova’s legendary solo flight back in 1963. The crew includes NASA aerospace engineer Aisha Bowe, civil rights icon Amanda Nguyen, journalist Gayle King, pop sensation Katy Perry, producer Kerianne Flynn, and Lauren Sánchez. 

So for now, Charissa’s stepping into a pretty fascinating gig in the world of STEM. It’s not clear whether or when she’ll be returning to sports, but the journalist has made it clear that she would like to re-sign with FOX.