ESPN’s Chris Fowler Announces Personal News on Thursday
Chris Fowler, the longtime voice of college football at ESPN, has spent more than three decades on major sports broadcasts. He joined ESPN in the mid-1980s, spent 1990–2014 hosting the network’s flagship “College GameDay” and now handles play-by-play for Saturday night football and much of ESPN’s tennis coverage.
This week, Fowler surprised followers with a personal update. He said he has taken up padel, the fast, glass-backed racket sport that has grown in U.S. cities and that he’s “hooked.” In an Instagram reel, Fowler described his first session at a Reserve Padel court in Hudson Yards.
“I am now a padel player. At long last, I’ve waited for this day for quite a while, finally getting on court today for the first time ever,” Fowler expressed excitedly. “I have friends who play. I’ve seen this played at the highest level, a pro at Miami Beach, insanely athletic. These guys play breathtaking points. I do none of that, but after an hour, I’m definitely hooked.
“I’m here at Reserve in New York City at the Hudson Yards. My guy Pablo took me through a great hour introducing me to it,” he added.
Courtesy of his connection to the sport, Fowler has played tennis recreationally for quite some time. He is familiar with the game’s mechanics. So, padel instantly delighted him.
“Some things translate, a lot of things do not translate into the mechanics of the swings in this sport, but I can’t tell you how good it feels. I’ve waited a long time because my shoulders have been wrecked,” Fowler said.
After a Long Rehab, He Reports Renewed Enjoyment Again
Fowler tore his pectoral tendons back in 2022 and had to undergo two surgeries to repair that and also elbow tendon micro tears. It took a long time to rehabilitate his shoulders, especially at the age of 60. So, after turning 63 in August, being fully able to pick up a sport like padel is a feat.
“I finally get back on a tennis court for the first time in a year and a half and now to be able to swing the padel like violently, like you have to do to hit the overheads in this sport and not feel pain, I cannot tell you how cool that is,” Fowler said. “I’m hooked. I’m going to be playing here in New York and Miami. It’s an awesome sport that a lot of the top tennis players are addicted to as well.”
The sport is quite famous in Madrid, Spain. Tennis pro Carlos Alcaraz has often expressed his love for the sport, especially after playing padel star Arturo Coello.
“Pablo has played a lot with Carlos Alcaraz, especially the Spanish guys are phenomenal padel players if they have tennis skills,” Fowler mentioned. “It’s just cool to be able to get out here at 63 and move around. It’s a fast-moving sport, the way the ball comes off the back glass.
“I got a long way to go for footwork and mechanics, but I’ve been patient with myself. I think I’m going to enjoy this, and I can’t wait to get back on court in the coming months.
“It’s a lot different than pickle [pickleball] in case you were wondering. Get out and try it. Check the videos out on YouTube and see how it is at the highest level and then give it a shot if you can,” he added.
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This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Nov 14, 2025, where it first appeared in the College Football section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
