Kaylee Hartung talks about Bond among female reporters in the NFL

As the number of prominent female reporters in the NFL continues to grow, Prime Video’s Kaylee Hartung gushed about the supportive community they’ve created together.

“It’s so cool,” Hartung, 39, told the exclusive My Weekly before Prime Video first ever broadcast of a playoff game between the Baltimore Ravens and the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday, January 11th. “It’s the most special group of women I’ve ever considered. I feel so happy.”

Hartung is attached to the sideline for Prime Video NFL coverage Taylor Rookswith Charissa Thompson anchoring net coverage during pregame, postgame and halftime.

“It’s so real between us,” Hartung explained. “Charissa, Taylor and I all have very different skill sets. We have very different personalities. I think we are able to work together and support each other in a way that is so special. No competition. We are each other’s biggest cheerleaders.”

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Other female reporters in top spots across the networks include Fox Sports Erin Andrews and Pam Oliver and CBS’ Tracy Wolfson and Kay Adamswho anchored Netflix’s early Christmas coverage.

“We all get along and like each other,” Hartung told us. “Charissa and I were friends before we ever were Thursday night football together. I had never met Taylor before they all got together for the first time. But it was immediate for all of us.”

Hartung, who also works as a contributor to NBC’s Today show, counts Sunday night football sideline reporter Melissa Stark as another encouraging colleague. When the duo worked together during the NFL Divisional Round playoff game between the Detroit Lions and Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Detroit’s Ford Field in January 2024, Hartung had a full circle of gratitude.

“We were sitting in the shuttle (on the way to the stadium) and I cried in the ugliest, stupidest, most raw, emotional way,” Hartung recalled. “The 15-year-old me could never have imagined this. Melissa has been so supportive and I appreciate being able to call her a friend. We’ll compare notes if I have the team ahead of her or if she’s ahead of me.’

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Hartung also yelled at NBC Maria Taylor and ESPN Laura Rutledgewith which she helped launch the SEC Network in 2014.

“I feel so lucky that all of our friendships have lasted,” she said. “I hope we set an example for women younger than us. It’s such a competitive environment and there are only so many opportunities. But there’s enough to go around.”

Hartung added, “At the end of the day, what we all have in common is that we’re all nice, friendly, good people who are excited about their achievements and like to cheer each other on.”

Hartung will be on the sidelines for the first-ever Prime Video playoff game between the Baltimore Ravens and the Pittsburgh Steelers, which will air live on Saturday, January 11 at 7:30pm ET.