Bussin’ With The Boys expands ESPN presence for NFL season
Former NFL players Will Compton and Taylor Lewan, the duo behind the popular Bussin’ With The Boys podcast, are set to make ESPN appearances across its platforms this football season. The deal calls for appearances to begin on Sept. 4, largely on Get Up with Mike Greenberg from ESPN’s Manhattan headquarters in Hudson Square. Reportedly, the appearances will be on Thursdays and will mix in-studio segments (with their bus in tow) and remote segments, with additional cameos on SportsCenter and other ESPN studio shows.
Bussin’ With The Boys began in 2019 with Barstool Sports and became independent at the start of this year after landing a sponsorship with FanDuel reportedly worth about $30 million over three years. The two have been expanding their media footprint beyond the podcast, most recently launching The Locker Room: CFB, a college football podcast with Josh Pate, who has also joined ESPN as a contributor. The duo are also developing Slips and Picks 500, a show centered on NFL and betting that will feature another former NFL player, Delanie Walker.
The podcast has cultivated a sizable social footprint, with about 581,000 Instagram followers and 287,300 on X. They recently sealed a sponsorship deal with Bud Light heading into the football season and have hosted high-profile guests, including Travis Kelce.
This season will be the first in which both Compton and Lewan are not on NFL rosters since launching the show. Silver Tribe Media has been assisting the duo with their broader media strategy.
This story has circulated in industry circles as part of SBJ Morning Buzzcast, highlighting how athlete-led media brands are increasingly aligning with major networks to broaden reach and monetization opportunities.
What this means for fans and the industry
– A cross-platform dialogue: Viewers can expect more in-depth conversations on Get Up, SportsCenter, and other ESPN programs, blending insider perspectives from two players-turned-pilers of the mic.
– Expanded betting-tinged content: With their Slips and Picks 500 project and ongoing betting partnerships, fans may see more analysis and game-day insight that bridges football talk and wagering.
– A broader media ecosystem shift: The arrangement underscores a growing trend of former players monetizing their brands across major networks, signaling more opportunities for athlete-led media properties.
Overview and outlook
The ESPN collaboration marks a notable shift for a podcast that has grown from a Barstool launch to an independent, sponsor-rich platform with significant social reach. By extending their presence onto a network scale, Lewan and Compton are turning their on-field charisma into enduring media careers, while fans gain easier access to the candid banter and football insight they’ve built into the show’s identity. The partnership also hints at a broader, positive shift in sports media toward diverse voices and multi-platform storytelling that blends analysis, humor, and personal storytelling.