As the new face of ESPN’s “Sunday NFL Countdown,” Samantha Ponder is ready to give the show the fresh perspective it’s been yearning for.

The 32-year-old broadcaster spoke about her new role after the network last week confirmed Ponder would replace longtime host Chris Berman.

“This opportunity provides a great combination of things I want most out of my life. It requires me to challenge myself and takes some risks,” Ponder told Sports Illustrated. “It’s a schedule that allows me to be the kind of present and engaged wife and mom I want to be.”

One interesting wrinkle: Ponder has a useful source — and a potential subject for “Countdown” to cover — in the middle of her personal life. She has been married to NFL quarterback Christian Ponder, 29, since 2012.

“I’m of the opinion that fans are often best served by broadcasters who have the best relationships with the people they are talking about. In my experience, the more you know about a player, a coach or team, the more likely you are to have more nuanced, interesting information and better context for analysis,” she said.

Christian Ponder is currently a free agent, but could latch on to a team as a backup as training camp approaches. Ponder was on the 49ers roster last season, but hasn’t attempted an NFL pass since 2014 in his fourth and final season with the Vikings.

“The goal is to give football fans the inside scoop, to give them honest and interesting information,” Ponder said. “I am not an analyst, so my role isn’t to critique my husband, his teammates or anyone, for that matter. However, I do think that when fully disclosed and appropriate, relationships with athletes and coaches can greatly benefit sports fans. It helps me know the right questions to ask, to challenge guys when something doesn’t add up and generally gives me a foundation of understanding about what these mens’ lives are really like.

“I’m not ashamed to know guys in the league on a personal level, and I’m certainly not going to try to hide who my husband is because I am immensely proud of the man I married. I’m well aware of the criticism that evokes among some fans, but I trust that over time, the way I do this job will put much of that to rest.”

Ponder, who is pregnant with the couple’s second child, will begin her new gig at the start of the 2017 NFL season.