Why did ESPN hire 22-year-old TikTok star Katie Feeney? Details explored after Coley Harvey's exit

ESPN hired TikTok star Katie Feeney because Cole Harvey is leaving his role as a broadcast journalist. The SportsCenter reporter is leaving after two stints with ESPN. He had worked for ESPN from 2013 to 2019, for a period of six years, and then came back in October 2021. He will be leaving the sports media company in October, completing four years in his second stint.

Cole Harvey has covered some important events throughout his years with ESPN. In 2013, he initially joined as a reporter and extensively covered the NFL Bengals for three seasons. He was also a host on NFL Nation TV Spreecast, and has made appearances in multiple podcasts. Besides NFL-related news, Harvey also covered Muhammad Ali's death as an onsite reporter.

For those who are wondering who will be replacing Cole Harvey, 22-year-old TikTok influencer Katie Feeney will be stepping in. She is chosen not just because of her millions of followers, but her sports storytelling ability is seen as a bridge between sports and Gen-Z.

ESPN wrote in their press release:

"Feeney will bring her signature first-person, lifestyle-driven approach – a blend of on-site access, fashion, and culture – to fans"

Keep reading to learn more about who Katie Feeney is, and what she does.

Who is Katie Feeney?

Katie Feeney is not just a TikTok influencer with over 14 million followers, but she is also a sports journalist. However, Feeney did not begin her career directly diving into sports. Her fame started when she began posting TikToks as a teenager, combining lifestyle and culture. Back when she was a teenager, she started by posting school dance routines and unboxing videos. Now, at 22 years old, she has moved on to reporting on NFL sidelines and even events in the White House.

Katie Feeney is a Maryland native whose rise to fame began during the pandemic. According to reports, she had earned millions of dollars through Snapchat's Spotlight program even before she was in college.

She studied broadcast journalism at Penn State. She managed to combine her love for content creation with her university's football program and YouTube, leading her to become the official correspondent for the Super Bowl LVI.

Feeney has more to add to her belt. In 2022, she became the Washington Commanders’ first social media correspondent. She has also been featured on Fox Sports, as well as the ESPYs. Katie Feeney is not just your everyday TikTok influencer; her talent has led her to political storytelling, when she worked with AKSM Media to cover the White House's holiday decor.

She also broke the news to her fans on Instagram. She posted a video and captioned it:

"I’m thrilled to announce that I’m joining ESPN as a Sports & Lifestyle Content Creator! I’ll be the daily lead for SportsCenter on Snapchat and will be creating content across ESPN’s social platforms. I’ll also be a weekly contributor on Sunday NFL Countdown, Monday Night Countdown, and College GameDay. Can’t wait to get started!"

The news of Cole Harvey's departure may have been a surprise to many, but ESPN shocked its viewers by bringing in 22-year-old TikTok star Katie Sweeney. With her blend of sports knowledge and Gen-Z storytelling, Feeney is set to usher in a fresh, lifestyle-driven approach to ESPN’s digital content.

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