NFL Network exec Charlie Yook set for first NFL Draft with ESPN — 30 years late

There was a time when Charlie Yook, the longtime production head at NFL Network, dreamed of working for ESPN.

In the mid-1990s at Miami University, the Glenbrook South grad and his friends religiously watched “SportsCenter,” “The Big Show” version with Dan Patrick and Keith Olbermann. Then they’d stay up and watch the late “SportsCenter.” A journalism major, Yook sent notes to a couple ESPN officials and never heard back.

“It was definitely the dream spot coming out of college, especially during that time when ‘SportsCenter’ was all we were watching,” said Yook, who graduated in 1996. “But life takes turns here and there.”

That it does, and 30 years later, when ESPN bought NFL Network in a deal that took effect April 1, Yook became an ESPN employee. The networks’ first joint production is taking place this week in Pittsburgh, where they’ll produce separate broadcasts of the NFL Draft. Yook, now the vice president and executive producer for content production, will continue to oversee NFL Network. He’ll report to ESPN executive vice president for sports production Mike McQuade.

The draft will be a crossover event that will include NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah appearing on ESPN and “Good Morning Football” co-host Kyle Brandt, a Stevenson grad, reuniting with “GMF” co-host turned ESPN analyst Peter Schrager.

“The shares are more traditional NFL Network going over on the ESPN side, but we’re truly a joint family moving forward, so we’ll figure out everything else afterward,” Yook, 52, said Wednesday before a 12-hour day in the production truck.

NFL Network

From that truck, Yook, who has led NFL Network’s draft coverage since 2014, will have more toys at his disposal than he has ever had, including three drones and augmented reality graphics.

“We flew the drone yesterday during rehearsal, and the pilot was incredible,” Yook said. “It was like up, down, below the bridge, through traffic. I’m like, ‘Guys, we should just use a shot going to break every time.’ It was awesome.”

Jeremiah’s analysis will be the focus of NFL Network’s coverage. He has become a leader in draft analysis, and Yook was effusive in his praise of Jeremiah’s player-breakdown tapes.

“You can only say so much in 35-40 seconds, but the tease I would give you is just watch how he goes through these tapes,” Yook said. “You’re gonna learn something about every player. The guy’s an animal, and I mean that in the best way.”

As excited as Yook is to be at “The Worldwide Leader in Sports,” it wasn’t easy for him or anyone at NFL Network to hear all the talk about its future while the merger made its way through government regulators. The deal also included ESPN absorbing the NFL’s fantasy football operation and distribution rights to the NFL Red Zone channel, and the league took a 10% equity stake in ESPN.

“I mean, it’s hard,” Yook said. “For me, it was 20 seasons at the NFL and hard just because you’ve been somewhere for two decades. Change is never easy. But there’s opportunity here. They’re called ‘The Worldwide Leader’ for a reason. Their scope is beyond football. And, oh, by the way, they have the Super Bowl across the street from our office [at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California] on Valentine’s Day of 2027. We’re gonna be busy.”

Long before the merger, NFL Network began cutting back on programming and talent. Like with many such sales, it had to be leaned out before being sold. But Yook is hopeful that the network will be able to expand its programming under ESPN’s leadership. In particular, Yook is looking at the seven games NFL Network will carry next season.

“If we’re going to work with a partner — we are ESPN, it has to be the vernacular — how would you like to do game coverage better? We didn’t travel for our games [last year]. Would it be that difficult to bring a smaller set, two to three talent or an existing ESPN show to do pre, half and post for these games? I don’t know. The games are going to be the most important thing for us.”

But Yook wanted to assure NFL Network viewers that it will remain NFL Network.

“It’s not becoming ESPN3; it’s not going to air on a different channel,” he said. “It’s like SEC Network is its own network, but ESPN owns it. It’s still NFL Network. It’s just owned by ESPN.”

Remote patrol

There’s plenty of Bears pre-draft coverage on TV tonight, including Chicago Sports Network’s “Big Pro Football Show” at 6, Fox 32’s “Bears Draft Live” also at 6 and NBC 5’s “Countdown to the Draft” at 6:30.

• Cubs radio voice Pat Hughes is among the 24 nominees for the 2026 Radio Hall of Fame class. Inductees will be announced May 20 and honored Oct. 8 in Chicago.

• Former ESPN 1000 executive Randy Merkin soon will release his second book, “Beyond the Glass: More stories from a sports radio producer,” from Eckhartz Press.

• CHSN will air a “Kids Day” broadcast of the Nationals-White Sox game Sunday that will include a young fan announcing the Sox’ lineup and kid-focused graphics.