Inside Super Bowl Prep With ESPN’s Laura Rutledge: Big Game Energy, Must-Have Snacks & Media Madness

As Super Bowl excitement builds this week, ESPN host and reporter Laura Rutledge is currently in one of the busiest, and most electric, weeks of the NFL season.

From delivering coverage of the Big Game to sharing her personal game-day party must-haves, Rutledge offers an insider’s look at how she balances high-pressure reporting with fun, fan-friendly traditions. The Blast got an exclusive glimpse into Super Bowl week through the eyes of Rutledge, one of ESPN’s most trusted and recognizable voices.

Through a timely partnership with Farm Rich Frozen Snacks, Rutledge also shares her must-have game day menu and tips, as well as how she prepares for the big game. 

Ahead of the Big Game, Rutledge was excited to team up with Farm Rich Frozen Snacks and fans can get a delicious piece of the action. Farm Rich is giving away 10 Ultimate Farm Rich Game Day Hosting Packs to help fuel some game day parties. 

“I love football and I love anything that has to do with football, so the fact that Farm Rich is really right in line with all of that with their great snacks, has been an incredible partnership for me and I’ve really enjoyed it,” she told The Blast exclusively. “My kids love the snacks. We’re big fans of the mozzarella sticks and the loaded potato skins.”

Rutledge said that she just “throws these in the air fryer,” making busy nights a little bit easier and tastier. She’s excited to help spread the word to fans on how they can win a Game Day Hosting Pack. 

“I am so excited for everyone to try Farm Rich and to experience this with their awesome Big Game giveaway which is really, really great stuff,” she said. “You get a top of the line air fryer plus Farm Rich frozen snacks for up to 20 friends. You can really put on a great party with this, and they’re giving this out to 10 lucky winners.” 

To enter, visit Farm Rich’s website or Instagram page, or Rutledge’s Instagram page. Rutledge shared all the information in her recent IG post with a cute video featuring her kids.

“Hosting the Big Game should not feel like a full contact sport. @farmrichsnacks are the ultimate hosting hack so I can spend less time in the kitchen and more time enjoying the game with my family. Easy to pop in the air fryer, delicious, and always gone before halftime. Now we’re cookin’” she wrote.

“How to Enter: Like the giveaway post pinned on the @farmrichsnacks official Instagram account. Follow @farmrichsnacks and comment on their giveaway post to enter. Share the giveaway post to your Instagram Story or feed for a bonus entry!”

When she’s not on the sidelines working, Rutledge knows what makes a game-watching party fun and memorable. 

“I think it’s all about having a little bit of variety, so that’s where Farm Rich helps so much because they have so many different options and there is really kind of something for everyone. The mozzarella sticks are kind of a mainstay and the jalapeno poppers are amazing, and I mentioned the loaded potato skins, too,” she said. “We even make a little dip to go with them that was actually suggested. Farm Rich has a bunch of great recipes that you can find on their page.” 

Rutledge explained that the key to a good game day party is having a variety of finger foods, veggies, and dips, something that people can “grab and sort of go and be around the house socializing” or watching the game. Finger foods also make it easy for the kids since they rarely want to sit down to eat during a party. 

She also said another main focus for her is making sure the food is something that isn’t difficult or complicated to prepare, so she can socialize and have a good time with everyone. Her no-fail hack? Dips! 

“I think people love dips and like to have options with the dips. One of the things I do and it works great with the loaded potato skins is take some ranch dressing and then chop up some chives. So it looks a little bit more gourmet and kind of just sprinkle your chives over the top,” she shared. “You could make a ranch dip with ranch seasoning, a little bit of sour cream, a little bit of Greek yogurt, put that all together, stir it up and then top it with your chopped chives.” 

With yesterday being National Girls and Women in Sports Day, the conversation with Rutledge was super timely. 

“It’s cool we have this day,” she said. “Just really thankful for what this is and really the path that’s been paved before us and then the path that we hopefully can continue to pave ourselves.” 

Rutledge explained that it’s taken a lot of hard work throughout her journey and credits her success with “being professional, being well researched, leading with knowledge and curiosity.” 

“Also, looking at things through the lens of a fan. You know, what does a fan want to know and how can I bring that to them?” she continued. “That’s ultimately at the end of the day, our most important job, especially as a sideline reporter.” 

Something she also spoke about are the relationships she’s built with the other women in the business. 

“What I think has been amazing for me is just some of the great relationships I’ve built with other women in this business who are in the same boat or maybe trying to get into the business,” she said. “I take that very seriously, you know, passing this to the next generation of women who are going to be doing this and providing a helping hand. I think it’s such an honor to be in a position to be able to do that, so it means the world to me and I really pinch myself."

Starting off in radio and never really aspiring to be on TV, Rutledge’s career has taken some interesting turns, so she has some advice to share with women looking to get into sports media. 

“I love the audio side of storytelling, and I think that’s given the foundation for what my career would ultimately become. I tried so many different sports, got a lot of experience, failed a ton. I still fail all the time and failing is something that I hate, but I do think it helps and you learn something from it,” she said. “For me, it’s sort of putting yourself out there, especially as a woman in this business and trying all sorts of different things, being willing to try different things because that’s really attractive to somebody that would be your potential employer. But lead with knowledge and be over prepared. I think that sets you up for a lot more success than the alternative.” 

When asked what one of the biggest misconceptions about being a sideline reporter is, Rutledge shared that nobody is telling them what to say.

"Whatever we say is something we came up with. That's sort of the blessing and the curse of it, but there's also nothing that's really scripted or nothing that's really planned," she said. "We will know in the open of the game that we're going to have a report or maybe an interview, but then it's kind of up to us to find things or to report on injuries or report on the things that are happening down there."

This has been one busy week for Rutledge, who shared a little about how she prepares for this time of year.

"There are so many different roles that I have this week, and so it's kind of like a variety of preparation," she told The Blast. "And one of the cool things about 'NFL Live,' just being on a daily show on ESPN, is that we have talked about this game in every which possible way, so it's kind of funny trying to find different ways to look at it and then also pulling out a little bit and saying, 'Okay, what's the bigger picture view?'"

When the topic of work/motherhood balance entered the chat, Rutledge proudly talked about her two kids, ages 6 and 2.

"Being a mom is by far the most important role I'll ever have. That's the thing that take the priority over everything," she said. "And I think what's been important for me, especially this season that's been so crazy with the workload and the travel, is when I am home, just being completely present with my kids as much as I can."

So once the Big Game is all said and done, what's Rutledge looking forward to?

"The offseason's actually really fun for us on 'NFL Live' because we continue on. So even though the football offseason has commenced, we carry on and it's a daily show," she said. "What's neat for me is that we really transition into covering the NFL draft and the prospects that are going to be coming into the NFL or the guys that I've been covering in college football, so it's kind of like my worlds finally collide."

And of course, being able to slow down a bit and spend more time with the kids is also on the agenda for the offseason.