Veteran ESPN Voice Sean McDonough Earns Prestigious Industry Award
Bristol, Friday, 2 January 2026.
ESPN’s Sean McDonough secured the 2025 National Sportscaster of the Year title, humorously likening his long wait for the prestigious accolade to soap opera icon Susan Lucci’s experience.
A Long-Awaited Honor
The accolade was revealed on January 1, 2026, via an on-air surprise delivered by McDonough’s broadcast partner, Greg McElroy [1]. McElroy expressed the broadcast team’s enthusiasm during the announcement, stating, “We’re super fired up about this… He is Sean McDonough, and he is officially the 2025 NSMA Sportscaster of the Year” [1]. McDonough, who turned 63 in 2025, accepted the recognition with characteristic wit, referencing his history of nominations without a win [1]. “I’ve joked I’ve been the Susan Lucci of that award,” McDonough remarked, drawing a parallel to the soap opera icon famous for her decades-long wait for an Emmy [1].
Dominating the Airwaves
This industry recognition aligns with data reflecting strong audience approval for McDonough’s recent work. His 2025 season was defined by his partnership with McElroy on ESPN’s college football coverage [1]. In Awful Announcing’s 2025 college football announcer rankings, the duo finished in first place, securing 96.0% of “A,” “B,” or “C” votes from viewers [1]. The breakdown of the polling data highlights their popularity, with the team receiving 439 “A” grades out of a total of 699 raw votes [1]. This equates to approximately 62.804% of respondents rating their performance as excellent.
Timing and Legacy
The award announcement arrived amidst a busy schedule for the veteran broadcaster. On January 1, just prior to the revelation of the award, ESPN PR confirmed that McDonough and McElroy, supported by Molly McGrath and Laura Rutledge, were assigned to call the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans later that evening [1]. Industry analysts have noted that while McDonough has built a formidable resume calling football, basketball, baseball, and hockey, he currently shines most brightly in the college football booth [1]. As media critic Matt Yoder observed in December 2025, McDonough “always meets the moment and perfectly captures the drama and fun of college football” [1].