Michele Tafoya Joins 'Sunday Night Football'

Will be sideline and feature reporter

By Tim Baysinger -- Broadcasting & Cable, 5/4/2011 11:03:21 AM

Well-known sideline reporter Michele Tafoya has come on board NBC's Sunday Night Football team for the upcoming season, the network announced Wednesday.

Tafoya will work as a sideline and feature reporter.

NBC refused to comment on the status of current SNF sideline reporter Andrea Kremer, instead forwarding inquiries to her agent, who was not available for comment at press time. Kremer is represented by Tysons Corner, Va.-based sports rep Octagon.

According to someone familiar with her negotiations, Kremer is looking to move beyond sideline reporting going forward and won't be doing sidelines for anybody in the coming season. She is said to be in negotiations with a number of outlets, including NBC, on various potential projects, and will continue her relationship with Emmy-winner HBO: Real Sports.

One possibility could be a role in NBC Olympic coverage, particularly swimming. She did swimming in Beijing in 2008 and Speed Skating in Vancouver in 2010.

"Michele is a versatile and experienced reporter who is well versed in the ways of the National Football League," said SNF producer Fred Gaudelli, who along with play-by-play voice Al Michaels and director Drew Esocoff worked with Tafoya on Monday Night Football for the 2004-05 season at ABC Sports. "I can speak for Al and Drew when I say that we're all thrilled to be working with Michele once again."

Tafoya, who has 13 years of NFL sideline reporting experience, has also covered the NBA, college football and basketball, and the Olympics for CBS, ABC and ESPN.

"This is a wonderful opportunity to work with a group for which I have great respect and admiration," Tafoya said. "I have many friends on this crew and I know how high they set the bar."

John Eggerton contributed to this report