NFL RedZone host Scott Hanson reveals extreme Sunday prep for marathon broadcasts
The longtime Fox Sports figure describes a ritual that begins before dawn and continues through kickoff, including no food, drink or bathroom breaks for hours.
Scott Hanson, the longtime host of NFL RedZone, has disclosed the extent of his Sunday preparation for the marathon broadcast that fans can expect to run for seven to eight hours. In an interview with Fox News Digital, Hanson outlined a routine that starts hours before kickoff and includes strict limits on eating, drinking and breaks as the action unfolds across multiple games.
Hanson’s day begins as a Friday-night or Saturday-night fatigue is pushed aside by a near-unrelenting routine. The 54-year-old host typically rises around 4 a.m., sometimes 4:30, in Los Angeles, where NFL RedZone is filmed. He said he is so wired to get going on an NFL Sunday that his body often wakes him up before any alarm sounds. He does not drink coffee, and he heads into the studio to begin preparations about five hours before kickoff. His pre-show meal is carefully designed to help him retain water over the course of the afternoon: a dense, salty breakfast prepared by the network’s chefs to minimize the need for bathroom access during the broadcast.
The routine tightens as game-time approaches. Hanson cuts off all food and liquids roughly three and a half hours before showtime, a deliberate move to avoid interruptions. About two hours before kickoff, he attends a production meeting with the crew to review notes, storylines, facts and milestones. The goal is to align everyone on what to cover and when to show it, ensuring the program remains cohesive across multiple games and moments of interest.
With about an hour to go, Hanson puts on his suit, gets makeup applied and rehearses the opening. He noted that the broadcast is largely ad-libbed, though the first two minutes are scripted. He typically writes those opening lines himself and practices them to set the energy before the “laser show” of touchdowns begins. “We do a rehearsal, believe it or not. It’s an ad-libbed show, of course,” he said. “But we do a rehearsal. The first two minutes of the show are the only part that is scripted. I usually write out what I’d like to say to bring the audience in, to ratchet up the energy and passion, and to welcome the entire football world into a new episode of ‘NFL RedZone.’ We’ll rehearse that around 9:30 a.m.”
Hanson’s final bathroom break comes five minutes before showtime, a ritual he described with candor. “Five minutes before showtime, when most of you guys are watching the countdown clock on ‘NFL RedZone,’ I’m in the men’s room using the facilities for the final time, because we don’t stop, and I haven’t taken a break in more than a decade, and I don’t intend to,” he said. He returns to the studio as the clock hits 10 a.m. Pacific, 1 p.m. Eastern, and the afternoon begins in earnest with a rapid-fire parade of touchdowns across the league.
The discipline is framed not only as a personal challenge but as a way to deliver a seamless, high-energy presentation for millions of fans. Hanson said the show’s pace is relentless, with the team tracking players and milestones as the action unfolds across multiple games. “We kick off the laser show, and then it’s rock and roll for 40, 50, 60 touchdowns in an afternoon,” he explained.
In addition to his high-intensity routine, Hanson has recently become part of Lowe’s Earn Your Sunday campaign, a promotional effort designed to encourage fans to complete home projects during the week so they can relax on Sundays and enjoy football. Hanson praised the campaign for its practicality, saying Lowe’s “has come up with a great campaign this year, called ‘Earn Your Sunday.’ And the concept is this: we all have projects we need to do in the house, around the house, in the yard. Everyone’s got them, right? Well, Lowe’s is encouraging everyone to ‘Let’s get it done during the week, on Friday or Saturday, so that you have earned your Sunday to be able to sit down and rock and roll with Uncle Scott or with your favorite football team.’”
Lowe’s campaign has drawn support from a slate of NFL stars, including Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley, Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson, San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey and Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott. Hanson said the initiative resonates with fans who want to balance chores and family duties with the pleasure of watching live football. “Lowe’s has everything you need to get your home project done during the week so that you have earned your Sunday to enjoy the games,” he said.
For many NFL fans, Sundays remain a cornerstone of family time and tradition. Hanson’s routine underscores the demands of producing a show that captures the league’s pace across parallel games while preserving the excitement that defines a typical Sunday in American football.
The RedZone program itself is filmed from studios in Los Angeles, with kickoff for Hanson and his crew at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time. The marathon broadcast has become a ritual of its own for fans who want a compact, action-packed window into the day’s most impactful moments.
