Samantha Steele’s Broadcasting Career Takes Off Years After Waitressing at ESPN Zone in Hopes of Getting Job (Photos)

Samantha Steele may now be known as the face of ESPN’s College GameDay, but her first job under the ESPN name wasn’t quite so glamorous.

Steele moved to New York City when she was 18 years old to try to jumpstart her career as a sports broadcaster. But instead of going into journalism, she immediately tried to work for the biggest name in sports TV: ESPN. Steele applied to become a waitress at the ESPN Zone in Times Square.

Steele thought that since the ESPN brand is promoted at the restaurant, employees would occasionally stroll through and present opportunities to establish connections.

Steele’s first try at working for ESPN was a swing and a miss, but it all worked out in the end. She has since become one of ESPN’s most recognizable young faces.

“It’s so crazy because people thought I was an idiot, which I was,” Steele said when asked about her master plan. “But apparently some part of that plan made sense.”

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Photo via Twitter/@Samantha_Steele