You might recognize Kevin Egan's Irish accent from MLS 360 on Apple TV. But his journey to becoming the lead host of Major League Soccer's whip-around coverage wasn't easy. In fact, one producer once told him straight up: "I wouldn't put your accent on the air."
That rejection could have ended everything. Instead, it sparked a career that would take Egan from Chicago to Miami to Atlanta, with stops at Fox Sports, ESPN, beIN Sports, and even WWE along the way.
Born in Ireland in 1985, Egan has American roots through his Chicago-born father Liam, a Gaelic footballer. After a torn ACL ended his own playing career with Raheny GAA, Egan shifted to broadcasting. He worked his way up at Ireland's RTÉ Sport, covering everything from the Olympics to the Premier League.
In January 2009, Egan moved to Chicago. One week later, he walked into a café and met his future wife Meg while "Falling Slowly" by Glen Hansard played on the radio. Talk about timing.
Building a Career the Hard Way
But work wasn't as romantic. Egan spent six months getting rejected before landing a production assistant gig at Big Ten Network. When that coordinating producer shut down his commentary dreams because of his accent, Egan had a choice to make.
His girlfriend Meg put it perfectly: "You're going to either go through him, go around him, or let him win. Which one is it going to be?" Egan chose option two. He recruited friends and created the BTN Soccer Report on his own time - a scrappy 10-minute show that he admits "was so poor" looking back.
It worked. The Chicago Fire came calling in 2012, offering him a sideline reporter position. From there, the dominoes fell. He moved to Miami in 2015 for beIN Sports, hosting coverage of Serie A, La Liga, and World Cup qualifiers. Then came Atlanta in 2019, where he called Atlanta United games for Fox Sports South.
Here's where it gets wild: In 2021, Egan jumped to WWE as Kevin Patrick. He became the first-ever foreign voice to lead Monday Night Raw in October 2022, later moving to Smackdown in 2023. For three years, he balanced WWE and MLS commitments simultaneously.
All In on Major League Soccer
Now Egan has put all his eggs in the MLS basket. Every weekend during the season, he flies from Atlanta to New York to host MLS 360 for Apple TV. With the 2026 season in full swing, Irish players like Austin FC's Jon Gallagher, Colorado Rapids' Connor Ronan, and NYCFC's Kevin O'Toole are making waves.
But Egan might be the most important Irishman in MLS - and he's not even on the pitch. When it comes to entertainment versus tradition in soccer, Egan has strong opinions. He hates those mid-half hydration breaks, seeing them as unnecessary sponsorship grabs that break up the game's flow.
However, he loves the new ref cam innovation. "I don't understand how people wouldn't like that," he says, especially when it captures rare moments with stars like Lionel Messi talking to officials. The footage gives fans unprecedented access without disrupting the live broadcast.
For MLS bettors and fans, having Egan as the face of Apple TV's coverage brings credibility and polish. His experience covering top European leagues and his deep knowledge of the game add serious value to the broadcast. Plus, his genuine passion for soccer shines through.
His advice for anyone trying to break into sports media? "Do the world-class basics." Remember names, be a good person, study the game, and respect it. The accent that once held him back? It probably helped him more than it hurt when covering the global game.
From rejection to WWE superstardom to MLS 360, Kevin Egan proves that sometimes the obstacles in your path become your greatest advantages. And that Irish accent? It's now one of the most recognizable voices in American soccer.
