Laura Rutledge Responds After Charissa Thompson Praises Her Work

Laura Rutledge responded on Instagram after Charissa Thompson praised her work ethic, kindness, humor, and broadcasting style. Rutledge said she could not get over the comments, turning a short podcast clip into a public exchange between two women who work for rival networks.

Thompson’s Masters praise

Thompson said, “I just want to say how much I love Laura Rutledge.” She added, “I got to see her at the Masters,” and said, “I just have such a respect for her.”

Her praise kept building from there. Thompson said, “She works so hard.” She also said, “She’s kind,” “She does it the right way,” “She’s funny,” and “And yeah, my girl can work.”

The comments were clipped and posted to the Calm Down podcast’s Instagram account with the caption, “Shout out @lauramrutledge.” Thompson hosts that podcast with Erin Andrews, and the exchange added another public nod to Rutledge from a broadcaster outside her own network.

Rutledge’s Instagram response

Rutledge answered in the comments section with, “I can't get over this! So dang cool. I'm in awe of you both.” Her reply kept the tone personal and direct, matching the praise Thompson had just laid out on the podcast clip.

The reaction also tied back to an earlier moment from four months ago, when Thompson had already shared admiration for Rutledge’s work ethic after Rutledge went viral on social media. This time, Thompson repeated the praise on a recent episode and spelled out the traits she values most: effort, humor, and the way she handles the job.

NFL Live and Thursday Night Football

Thompson said she loves NFL Live and relies on it to help her prepare for hosting Thursday Night Football. That gives the exchange a sharper edge than simple compliments: the praise comes from someone who uses Rutledge’s work as part of her own weekly prep.

Rutledge, 37, is an reporter who predominantly works as a sideline reporter for Monday Night Football and also hosts SEC Nation on the SEC Network. Thompson, 44, works for Fox Sports and Amazon Prime Video during the NFL season, and the two women’s public exchange showed a rare cross-network show of respect in a business that usually keeps those lines tight.

For readers, the practical takeaway is simple: Rutledge has now answered the praise directly, and the comments keep her name attached to the same qualities Thompson singled out on the podcast — hard work, kindness, humor, and polish on camera.