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Come Fan with UsSunday, July 5, 2026

Keyshawn Johnson Misses ESPN Pregame Show After Death Of Mother

Those folks looking for Keyshawn Johnson on ESPN's NFL Countdown pregame show — whoever those people are — were greeted by a Key-free ESPN set this morning. That's because Johnson was not with the crew but with his family after his mother's sudden passing this week.

↵For everyone asking, Keyshawn is not here today. His mom passed away unexpectedly this week. So he is with his family today.↵ESPN’s show, which began with a moment explaining Johnson’s absence and expressing their sympathies — which are echoed here — didn’t suffer much in his absence. Cris Carter and Mike Ditka provided plenty of the banter that Johnson typically does, and ESPN tapped Monday Night Football analyst to break down some elements of today’s AFC and NFC Championship Games.

↵

In making their picks at the end of the show, four of ESPN's analysts picked the Jets, the team Johnson entered the NFL with, to defeat the Steelers and advance to Super Bowl XLV, with Carter calling his pick of the Jets over the Steelers the "Keyshawn Bowl."

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