Eli Apple's mom, Annie, to contribute to Sunday NFL Countdown

ByDan Graziano ESPN logo

Tuesday, May 24, 2016

Being a first-round NFL draft pick is enough to make you a celebrity. But since last month's draft, New York Giants first-rounder Eli Apple has seen his mother become a bigger celebrity than he is.

Annie Apple has gained fame for her lively presence on social media and a couple of high-profile interviews she has given about her son and their draft experience, including one that prompted NFL commissioner Roger Goodell to send her brownies.

"She's not going to change," Eli Apple said Monday, after the Giants' first practice during organized team activities. "She was like this way back when I was in high school. She's not going to do anything different."

Well, she is getting a new job. Starting this fall, Annie Apple will join ESPN's Sunday NFL Countdown as a contributor. Annie Apple will offer player profiles and other stories for ESPN's Sunday morning pregame show.

"I am beyond excited to be joining the ESPN family and to have the platform to rep sports moms' perspectives, energy, contributions and fantastic awkwardness to viewers around the world," Annie Apple said. "Moms are the heart and backbone of all sports. We are our kids' first coaches, trainers, nutritionists and cheerleaders."

Apple writes a blog called "Survivin America: Making it through with humor and hope." After the draft, she wrote a first-person column for Sports Illustrated about the experience, and soon thereafter she visited ESPN's campus in Bristol, Connecticut, to appear on "His & Hers," NFL Live and several other studio shows.

"Annie caught our attention during the NFL Draft, and when we met her in-person at ESPN, we were blown away by her relatability, her sense of humor and just how unafraid she is to speak her mind," said Seth Markman, senior coordinating producer for ESPN's NFL studio shows. "Annie brings a very unique perspective as the mother of a current NFL player and as a fan, and we look forward to exploring a variety of different story ideas with her on Sunday NFL Countdown."