MJ Acosta-Ruiz is an award-winning, bilingual sports journalist and broadcaster who joined ESPN in 2024 as a SportsCenter anchor for the show’s edition originating from Los Angeles and a sideline reporter for ESPN Deportes’ Monday Night Football. She also serves as a commentator for NFL Network.

Acosta-Ruiz brings over 15 years of experience to ESPN, including her notable work at NFL Network, where she became the first Afro-Latina to host a show on the network. Her career at NFL Network began in 2018 as a Bay Area-based reporter covering the San Francisco 49ers and Oakland Raiders. Before that, she served as the lead sports anchor for NBC 7 and Telemundo 20 in San Diego, covering the Chargers, Padres, and international soccer in both English and Spanish broadcasts. During her tenure at Telemundo, she earned a regional Emmy in the Best Newscast category.

Acosta-Ruiz’s journalism career also includes three years as a reporter for WPLG, the ABC affiliate in Miami and Fort Lauderdale, where she covered sports, entertainment, and breaking news. A former Miami Dolphins cheerleader, Acosta-Ruiz is fully bilingual and has worked internationally across various platforms, reaching diverse audiences.

A dedicated advocate for representation and equality, Acosta-Ruiz is actively involved with women’s empowerment organizations such as A Seat at the Table. In recognition of her contributions to the field of communications and her commitment to inclusivity, she was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Human Letters from Barry University, her alma mater, in 2024. Acosta-Ruiz graduated from Barry University with a Bachelor of Arts in Communications.

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