The presence of Latina reporters in the NFL has been limited, though it has seen growth in recent years. A significant development occurred this season when the Denver Broncos appointed Elisa Hernandez as their first Latina team reporter, despite the franchise’s long-standing connection to a diverse fan base.
Hernandez, originally from Los Angeles, joins a Broncos organization that has made efforts to engage Latino fans through outreach programs and community events, including the recent Vamos Broncos event held at Empower Field at Mile High Stadium as part of Hispanic Heritage Month. Hernandez’s recruitment adds an important voice to the team’s evolving relationship with its Latino audience.
Hernandez expressed her excitement about the role, stating, “It feels surreal.” She grew up as one of four siblings in Los Angeles and often helped her father clean apartments to support the family. Her parents immigrated from El Salvador during the Salvadoran Civil War, and while she was born in California, she recognizes the challenges they faced.
Sports played a crucial role in uniting her family, and during her childhood in the late 1990s, Hernandez became a Denver Broncos fan, drawn to the team as Los Angeles lacked its own NFL franchise. “Being able to do what I love for the team that I’ve loved since I was a little kid is pretty special,” she noted.
After graduating from USC, Hernandez encountered obstacles in securing on-camera positions, unlike many of her peers. However, she remained undeterred and focused on understanding the industry’s inner workings, starting her career as a ticker operator for the NFL—responsible for the scrolling text that appears on TV screens, which she recalls with a laugh.
Determined to create opportunities for herself, Hernandez eventually worked with various sports teams in Los Angeles and across multiple networks, including NFL Network and Telemundo Deportes. Most recently, she served as an in-arena host for the Los Angeles Dodgers, where she notably hosted the first Salvadoran night at Dodger Stadium, a milestone for her.
“That representation matters. Seeing little brown girls there, watching me on the Jumbotron, and hearing our slang—it impacts them because they see themselves in me!” she emphasized.
Hernandez is committed to sharing her cultural knowledge and aims to inspire others who share her background. As the first Salvadoran team reporter for the Broncos, she hopes to break down barriers, stating, “I do it for them. They are my why. My family is my why. Representing my country, heritage, and culture is important.”