Taylor McGregor Departs Marquee Sports Network for Full-Time ESPN Role

Chicago Cubs television broadcasts will have a noticeably different feel next season. Taylor McGregor, the energetic sideline reporter who has been a fixture on Marquee Sports Network since its 2020 launch, is leaving to join ESPN full time. The 33-year-old Colorado native announced the move Thursday, ending a seven-year run covering the Cubs on a daily basis and opening a new chapter at the worldwide leader in sports.

A Familiar Face at Wrigley and Beyond

McGregor’s departure marks the end of an era for Marquee’s core broadcast trio. Since the network’s inception, she has worked alongside play-by-play announcer Jon “Boog” Sciambi and color commentator Jim Deshaies, forming a chemistry that viewers came to expect during Cubs games. But her résumé extends well beyond the Friendly Confines.

A University of Arkansas graduate, McGregor built her career through local television stops at KCWY-TV in Wyoming, THV-11 in Little Rock, and AT&T SportsNet in Denver before landing at Marquee. Crucially, she has been pulling double duty since September 2019, serving as a college football sideline reporter for ESPN while simultaneously covering the Cubs. That arrangement allowed her to develop a national profile while maintaining a daily presence in Chicago.

Why She Walked Away from Daily Baseball

The decision, McGregor told the Chicago Tribune, came down to sustainability and personal priorities.

“Ultimately, it was an opportunity to grow in my career at ESPN and I had to make a tough decision. I love everyday baseball, but it’s every day and I’ve been doing it for nine years and I felt ready to have a little bit more time in my personal life.”

McGregor has been transparent about her long-term goals. “I’ve been very clear with my bosses from Day 1, I do want to be a mom, I do want to get married, and it’s just hard to do that with this type of schedule,” she said. The grind of a 162-game season — travel, late nights, and limited off-days — makes those milestones difficult to pursue.

Sciambi and Deshaies Will Miss Her Energy

The void McGregor leaves isn’t just professional — it’s personal. Sciambi, who has called games for decades, offered a candid assessment of what made her unique.

“She’s unique, she’s fun and super likable, and that immediately — whether it’s on the air, off the air — connects her to the audience. When you’re doing it every day, you are trying to find stuff and she really learned to figure out what’s interesting. Her laugh is incredible. We joke that we don’t know half the time when we hear her laughing whether her mic’s open or not because you can hear it from so far away.”

Sciambi emphasized that the three-person dynamic — himself, Deshaies, and McGregor — took years to cultivate. “It’s not just the connection JD and I have,” he noted. “We’re going to miss her energy, her presence. She’s a kind, loving person.”

Expanded Role at ESPN: NBA, College Basketball, and SportsCenter

McGregor’s new arrangement with ESPN represents a significant promotion. While she will continue her college football sideline duties, her portfolio expands to include NBA coverage this season, with potential assignments in college basketball and increased opportunities to host SportsCenter. The variety appeals to a broadcaster who has spent nearly a decade immersed in the daily rhythm of baseball.

The timing aligns with ESPN’s ongoing investment in versatile, multi-sport reporters who can move seamlessly between studio and field assignments. McGregor’s experience navigating both local and national platforms positions her well for that model.

Marquee Moves Forward Under New Leadership

McGregor’s exit comes during a transitional period for Marquee. Colin Faulkner, the Cubs’ chief commercial officer, assumed oversight of the network in 2026 after the departure of general manager Diane Penney amid December staff reductions. Faulkner called McGregor’s departure “very bittersweet.”

“She started when she was very green and young, and we’ve kind of watched her grow up before our eyes. It’s like a family, and we’ve got a really good group and everybody cares a lot about each other. But everyone obviously knows that this is the next step for her, and it’s very apparent that it’s what she should be doing, even though it’s very, very difficult for her to make that decision.”

Marquee plans to have a new field reporter in place by spring training. “I think there’ll be a ton of interest in Taylor’s spot,” Faulkner said. The network will rely on national television broadcasts for the postseason, and McGregor’s college football commitments already prevented her from traveling for the final regular-season series against the Boston Red Sox.

What This Means for Cubs Fans

For viewers accustomed to McGregor’s dugout interviews, feature stories, and infectious laugh, the 2027 season will bring a new voice at Wrigley. But the move also reflects a broader trend: talented local reporters leveraging daily beat experience into national roles. McGregor follows a path traveled by others who honed their craft in single-team markets before graduating to network platforms.

Her final Marquee game aired Thursday, though she remains affiliated with the network through the postseason. After that, the focus shifts to Bristol — and whatever comes next for a broadcaster who made the daily grind look like fun.

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