Former ESPN analyst Todd McShay has revealed that his colleague, Mel Kiper Jr., eschews cell phones in favor of multiple landline numbers. Kiper, renowned for his NFL Draft insights, is celebrating his 40th anniversary at ESPN and has become a household name in sports media.
McShay, who worked closely with Kiper on ESPN’s NFL Draft coverage from 2006-2023, shared this anecdote on Barstool’s Pardon My Take podcast: “I’ve got 1, 2, 3, 4 different numbers for Mel. So if I want to get through to him… look at all these messages to Kim. And Kim writes back, ‘Hey Todd, how are you. I’m sure he’ll get back to you tonight.’ ”
McShay continued, “And then Mel will pick up from a different landline. It’s not like a cell phone at home. It’s back in the ’80s where you hear another phone. ‘Hey, Todd, how are you? What’s going on?’ It’s definitely a throwback to my childhood.”
This revelation highlights a stark contrast between Kiper’s approach and the modern journalistic landscape, where cell phones have become indispensable tools. However, Kiper remains committed to a time-tested formula that has served him well throughout his illustrious career.
Born in Baltimore, Kiper developed a fascination with the NFL Draft from a young age. He submitted draft reports as a high school student to Eddie Accorsi, the general manager of his hometown Baltimore Colts. Accorsi recognized the value of Kiper’s insights and encouraged him to pursue a career in this field.
Kiper signed his first contract with ESPN in 1984. His initial salary was a modest $400, but he has since achieved remarkable success, building a net worth exceeding $7 million and establishing an uninterrupted four-decade career at the “World Wide Leader in Sports.”
Kiper’s distinctive hair and affable personality have contributed to the NFL Draft’s growing popularity among sports fans. However, his draft analysis has also faced criticism at times. Last year, he correctly predicted only 1.5 first-round picks and has been criticized for notable scouting blunders, such as predicting that Seattle Seahawks draft pick Jimmy Clausen would become an NFL star.
Despite these occasional missteps, Kiper’s diligent work ethic has led him to yet another NFL Draft, which begins Thursday evening. Presumed No. 1 overall selection Caleb Williams topped Kiper’s final ‘big board’ draft rankings, followed by LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels, Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., and Washington receiver Rome Odunze. The draft will be broadcast live on both ESPN and ABC.
