ESPN has signed Katie Feeney, a sports and lifestyle content creator with more than 14 million social media followers, to create content across the network’s digital channels and appear on premier football programming. The recent Penn State University graduate will contribute to ESPN’s social and digital efforts daily, including leading a refreshed approach to SportsCenter on Snapchat.

“Katie has built an impressive and authentic connection with sports fans by blending access, personality, and Gen-Z culture in a way that feels fresh and engaging,” Kaitee Daley, ESPN’s SVP of Digital, Social, and Streaming Content, said in a press release.

Feeney will deliver vertical short-form video content designed for an enhanced ESPN App experience launching in early fall. Her work complements ESPN’s existing roster of creators who specialize in real-time, social-native storytelling.

The appointment aligns with ESPN’s broader creator strategy. The network recently launched the third iteration of its Creator Network, adding five established social media personalities with a combined audience of more than 6 million followers. This program, which began in 2022, has already generated 9.7 million impressions and reached over 3.5 million fans in 2024 alone.

Beyond her digital role, Feeney will make appearances on several of ESPN’s premier football studio shows, including Sunday NFL Countdown, Monday Night Countdown and College GameDay. She will bring her signature first-person, lifestyle-driven approach to these programs.

Feeney’s Role in ESPN’s Digital Strategy

Feeney has quickly established herself in sports media. In 2022, she became the first-ever social media correspondent for an NFL team, the Washington Commanders, and has since covered major events from the Super Bowl to the Oscars.

“From capturing Penn State games on the sidelines to now joining the biggest platform in sports, this journey has been incredible,” Feeney said. “I grew up watching SportsCenter with my family, and I’m proud to now be part of the storytelling that brings ESPN to millions of fans around the world.”

According to ESPN, engagement rates for creator content are up to 13 times higher than typical social platform benchmarks. The network’s 2024 creator class reportedly generated over 400 million cross-platform views, significantly expanding ESPN’s social reach.

ESPN Digital & Social continues to rank as the No. 1 U.S. digital sports property across key metrics and demographics, with record engagement driven by its social media platforms and direct-to-fan content strategy.

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