Hannah Wilkes has admitted NFL has "taken over [her] life".
Hannah Wilkes loves NFL
The 32-year-old presenter didn't know much about the sport when she first started working on it for Sky Sports but quickly fell in love with it and she now finds the game "endlessly fascinating".
She said: "I discovered NFL through working at Sky! I was loaned out to Fox to work on one of the International Games at Wembley and fell hook, line and sinker for this physical, complicated sport I was watching. The lesson in the ‘basis’ from three-time Super Bowl champ Daryl Johnston, who was commentating that day, helped shed some light on what was going on and I’ve been learning and loving it ever since...
"With the NFL- it’s a game where the more you know the more there is to learn. There are so many layers and complexities to it that I find it endlessly fascinating- it’s addictive! Entertaining on the field, great storytelling around it so you really invest in the players, plus constant things to learn. It’s taken over my life!"
Hannah feels "really lucky" to have covered so many sports in her work for the broadcaster but she still has one dream to fulfill.
She exclusively told BANG Showbiz: "I’ve been really lucky to work across a huge variety of sports. I’ve not done F1 though and I’m a lifelong fan so it would be cool to tick that off at some point!"
The broadcaster finds it frustrating when women working in sport are accused of only being there to fill a quota.
She said: "The easiest jibe to throw at a woman in sport is that she’s a 'token' or 'box ticker'- and frankly that’s lazy and outdated. Every woman I’ve worked with in sport, particularly the NFL, is there because of their knowledge and because they’ve earned it.
"For the people who directly question my knowledge, or worse ask if I 'even like NFL/sport', I usually make them regret asking such a stupid question… "
Hannah is a presenter for Sky Sports News and Sky Sports NFL.
On Sunday(02.10.22), the Minnesota Vikings will face off against the New Orleans Saints live on Sky Sports NFL from Tottenham Hotspur Stadium with coverage starting from 1.30pm.