NFL sideline reporter Pam Oliver has been a fixture in the business for more than 30 years, covering the league for Fox. At 65, she’s also one of the most experienced voices on the sidelines, most recently covering the San Francisco 49ers’ Week 7 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons.

Oliver has inspired countless people in the industry, but her own journey hasn’t always been easy. For the past few years, she’s been dealing with serious health issues that have sometimes been noticeable during broadcasts, including occasional slurred speech.

Fans have also voiced their concerns online, wondering if something more serious is going on. Oliver addressed her health struggles in 2021, opening up about the episodes that have sometimes left her unable to work and how difficult they have been to manage.

Pam Oliver Once Opened Up About the Health Issues She Still Battles Today

In a 2021 interview with The Athletic’s Richard Deitsch, Oliver revealed that she had been dealing with severe migraines for years. The interview was referenced again in coverage the following year, revisiting Oliver’s comments about how frequently she experienced migraines during football season.

Despite how debilitating the condition can be, Oliver said she’s found ways to manage it and has seen the frequency of her migraines decrease. Still, they remain a challenge.

“I’ve gone from averaging 5-6 a month down to averaging 3 a month. I consider that being lucky. They’re very debilitating for me. They’ve been a problem for a very, very long time,” she added. “It’s caused me to miss a few games over the span of my career because I just couldn’t take the noise, the light, and the sickness that comes with that. The nausea and the vomiting.”

Oliver also recalled having to pull out of a game she was scheduled to cover after a migraine left her too sick to work, despite being just minutes from Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

“There was one game, about three to four years ago. I live in Atlanta. I was minutes from Mercedes-Benz [Stadium]. I told my driver, ‘You gotta pull over.’ We were less than five minutes from the stadium. I’m hurling. My head is pounding,” she remembered.

“And I made the decision right then and there: I’m no good to anyone. There’s no way that I felt like I was gonna get through that game, be productive, help the crew, or contribute in any way. So, I turned around and went home. I felt so guilty about that for the longest time, but they really do knock me out of action.”

Oliver also stressed that she wasn’t sharing her experience to invite sympathy, but to explain what she’s been dealing with for years.

“Not to have people feel sorry for me, but that’s just the way it is. That’s just part of my health issue.”

Oliver continues to work as a Fox sideline reporter, most recently interviewing Michael Penix Jr. after the Falcons’ win over the 49ers.

However, her appearances have also raised concern from fans over her slurred speech during broadcasts. Oliver’s past comments about her struggles with severe migraines provide important context, and we wish her the best as she continues covering the NFL in 2026 and beyond.