CHARISSA THOMPSON BIO

Charissa Thompson is a dynamic host for three NFL shows: FOX NFL KICKOFF, the lead-in to FOX NFL SUNDAY; Prime Video's Thursday Night Football pregame show; and the acclaimed "NFL Films Presents" on FS1, which provides a unique perspective on the league's heroes and personalities. Since FS1's launch in August 2013, Thompson has been a prominent face of the network, widely recognized for her versatility as both a host and reporter in sports and entertainment.

Thompson enriches both FOX pregame shows with compelling interviews and features, while also providing voiceovers for highlights during FOX games on Sundays. Her remarkable career, which began in 2006 as an assistant in the FOX Sports human resources department, has flourished, allowing her to thrive in the prime of her broadcasting journey.

Outside the studio, Thompson has served as a correspondent for the long-running entertainment magazine show "EXTRA." Since she began co-hosting in 2014, she has built a wealth of experience interviewing Hollywood's biggest stars, showcasing her versatility and expertise in both sports and entertainment.

Thompson teams up with her colleague and close friend, FOX NFL reporter Erin Andrews, to co-host the podcast "Calm Down with Erin and Charissa." The show highlights their unfiltered conversations, covering a wide range of topics including life, gossip, sports, and various subjects that capture their interest.

In 2020, amid the height of the pandemic, Thompson launched her own interior design and lifestyle company, House & Home. The company offers both virtual and in-home services, helping clients achieve a premier vision for their homes that they can truly be proud of.

‘Sports Fan at Heart’

A Seattle native and a three-time lettered athlete in basketball, track, and volleyball, Thompson graduated from the University of California–Santa Barbara with a Bachelor of Arts degree in law and society. Her passion for sports runs in the family, as her brother Tyson played baseball at Washington State.

After graduating, Thompson relocated to Los Angeles to accept an HR position at FOX Sports. Driven by her passion for sports, she spent her evenings in the network’s highlights department, honing her skills in cutting and organizing game clips and logging video tape. In 2007, she transitioned to a production assistant role at FOX Sports Net Rocky Mountain, embarking on a career path that steadily grew and evolved.

During her time in Denver, Thompson received her first on-air opportunity as a fill-in host for the channel’s Saturday evening Colorado Rockies all-access show. Her natural ease in front of the camera caught the attention of FOX executives, leading to her being hired as a regular host on the network’s nationally syndicated program, "Best Damn Sports Show Period," filmed in Los Angeles. Thompson spent two years on the show and also made appearances as a sideline reporter for both FOX NFL and the Big Ten Network.

In 2010, Thompson departed from FOX Sports to expand her career across multiple platforms, taking on hosting roles at both Versus and Yahoo! Sports. At Versus, she anchored NHL studio coverage, while at Yahoo, she produced web videos and led the website’s coverage of major events such as the 2010 Winter Olympics, FIFA World Cup, Super Bowl XLV, and the BCS National Championship. Her success in these roles paved the way for her to join ESPN in August 2011, where she was appointed as one of the hosts for the network’s newly launched afternoon show, "Numbers Never Lie."

In July 2012, Thompson took on a hosting role at "SportsNation," where she thrived before returning to FOX Sports in May 2013 for the launch of FS1. Outside of her professional life, Thompson enjoys yoga, running, interior decorating, boating, and water sports. Her favorite athletes include Michael Jordan and Ken Griffey Jr., while "The Wizard of Oz" and "Gangs of New York" are her top movie picks. Musically, she is a fan of Lionel Richie and Lenny Kravitz. Stay connected with her on Twitter @CharissaT and Instagram @charissajthompson.