Multiple Sideline Reporters Speak Out After Charissa Thompson Admits to Making Up Reports

Reporters such as CBS Sports’ Tracy Wolfson and Fox Sports’ Laura Okmin disagreed with Thompson.

Fox Sports’ Charissa Thompson was the focus of high criticism from fellow NFL sideline reporters on Thursday after the now host of Fox NFL Kickoff admitted that in the past, she has made up quotes from coaches during sideline reports.

In a recent interview on the Pardon My Take podcast, Thompson admitted that if she wasn’t able to speak to a coach at halftime, she would make up a broad report.

“I’ve said this before, so I haven’t been fired for saying it, but I’ll say it again,” Thompson said. “I would make up the report sometimes because A, the coach wouldn’t come out at halftime or it was too late and I was like, I didn’t want to screw up the report, so I was like, ‘I’m just gonna make this up.’

“Because, first of all, no coach is gonna get mad if I say, ‘Hey, we need to stop hurting ourselves, we need to be better on third down, we need to stop turning the ball over... and do a better job of getting off the field,’” she continued. “Like, they’re not gonna correct me on that.” 

CBS Sports’ sideline reporter Tracy Wolfson was one of the first reporters to chime in with her opinion on the comments.

“This is absolutely not ok, not the norm and upsetting on so many levels,” Wolfson wrote. “I take my job very seriously, I hold myself accountable for all I say, I build trust with coaches and never make something up. I know my fellow reporters do the same.”

This is absolutely not ok, not the norm and upsetting on so many levels. I take my job very seriously, I hold myself accountable for all I say, I build trust with coaches and never make something up. I know my fellow reporters do the same. https://t.co/sl0T7w32u9

— Tracy Wolfson (@tracywolfson) November 16, 2023

The reactions continued from there. Fellow Fox Sports’ reporter Laura Okmin responded with her thoughts.

“THE privilege of a sideline role is being the 1 person in the entire world who has the opportunity to ask coaches what’s happening in that moment,” Okmin wrote. “I can’t express the amount of time it takes to build that trust. Devastated w/the texts I’m getting asking if this is ok. No. Never.”

THE privilege of a sideline role is being the 1 person in the entire world who has the opportunity to ask coaches what’s happening in that moment. I can’t express the amount of time it takes to build that trust. Devastated w/the texts I’m getting asking if this is ok. No. Never.

— Laura Okmin (@LauraOkmin) November 16, 2023

In a response to Okmin, ESPN’s Buster Olney agreed and offered what reporters should do in this situation instead.

“If the coach/manager declines to answer any questions, you start with that. And then plane onto other information,” Olney wrote.

ESPN’s Jenna Laine also provided advice on what to do in a situation when a coach isn’t available.

“I spent time as a sideline reporter and have dealt with instances where access and immediate information was a challenge,” Laine started. “If I may…this is why you over-prepare. Lean on reporting from earlier in the week with top storylines and get really unique back-stories. Hope that helps.”

If you’re coming out of halftime and you aren’t able to get a coach for a sideline report, but you noticed the DBs huddling up on the sideline really talking through things after giving up 300 yards, knowing communication has been a weak point, you can talk about that.

— JennaLaineESPN (@JennaLaineESPN) November 16, 2023

Earlier in the day, ESPN’s Molly McGrath specifically gave advice for young reporters, urging them to not do what Thompson did.