NFL's deal with ESPN leads to epic Rich Eisen SportsCenter cameo two decades in the making

Rich Eisen made his return to SportsCenter on Monday night.

For the first time in 20 years, Eisen kicked things off after the Monday Night Football preseason game between the Washington Commanders and Cincinnati Bengals.

Eisen first appeared on the program in 2003, but he left ESPN to join NFL Network when that was launched in 2003. However, with ESPN acquiring the NFL Network and certain other media assets owned and controlled by the NFL, Eisen has returned to the place where it all began.

"Eisen’s reconnection with ESPN, his home from 1996 to 2003, will go beyond The Rich Eisen Show to include select appearances across ESPN studio programming. During his original tenure, Eisen was a prominent SportsCenter anchor and contributed to multiple high-profile events. Separate from his newest ESPN agreement, Eisen maintains his role at NFL Network," ESPN detailed in a press release.

The network added that Eisen would be joined in-studio by ESPN NFL analyst Mina Kimes, while Joe Buck and Troy Aikman were set to join him post-game.

And when the episode began, seeing Eisen sitting behind the desk was perfect.