American sports television personality (born 1987)
Jenny Taft
Taft in 2022
Born (1987-09-05 ) September 5, 1987 (age 36) Education
Boston University Occupation(s) Sports television personality Sideline reporter Years active 2011–present Notable credit
Skip and Shannon: Undisputed Spouse
Jenny Taft (born September 5, 1987) is an American sports television personality who served as the moderator on
Fox Sports 1 's
Undisputed . Taft additionally works as a lead
college football
sideline reporter on
Fox broadcasts. Her broadcasting career began with the
Fox Sports North (FSN)
regional affiliate . Taft is also a pit reporter for
BattleBots on the Discovery channel.
Early years
Taft was born on September 5, 1987, in
Edina, Minnesota .
[1]
[2] She attended
Edina High School .
[3] Taft then attended
Boston University , where she played lacrosse.
[4] She majored in Broadcast Journalism and graduated with a bachelor's degree in 2010.
[3]
Broadcasting career
Fox Sports North
Taft's broadcasting career began with Fox Sports in 2011.
[5] This early period of her career saw her fill a "Fox Sports Girl" role,
[6] as she served as a
Fox Sports North
sideline reporter for the
Minnesota Lynx of the
WNBA .
[7]
[8] During her time as an FSN Girl, she was also a
social media
contributor for Minnesota's
Timberwolves ,
Twins , and
Wild sports teams, as well as an in-stadium/arena host at Twins and Wild games.
[8] Taft attributed her success later in her career in part due to getting on-camera repetitions at FSN.
[9]
Fox Sports 1
In August 2013, she was promoted to join
FS1 's news and highlights update team.
[7] She served as a track reporter for a 2013
Supercross event, which was her debut assignment at FS1.
[10] She also served as a reporter for the
U.S. women's national soccer team at the
2015 FIFA Women's World Cup .
[6]
[10]
Taft got her start in
college football reporting in 2014, as part of FS1's game coverage.
[10] In 2017, Taft was elevated to lead college football sideline reporter, alongside
play-by-play commentator
Gus Johnson and
analyst
Joel Klatt .
[11]
[12] Her role at FS1 expanded considerably, as she has additionally covered the
NFL ,
MLB , and the
Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show .
[5]
In 2018, she served as a fill-in host and moderator on various
FS1 programs .
[10] That summer, it was announced that Taft would be succeeding
Joy Taylor as the moderator of
Skip and Shannon: Undisputed , hosted by
Skip Bayless and
Shannon Sharpe .
[5]
[13] Shortly after, on September 5, FS1 debuted CFB: Inside Slant , a weekly college football show hosted by Taft.
[13] Despite taking on these new positions at FS1, she retained her college football sideline reporting duties for the
2018 season .
[13] In 2020, she was a sideline reporter for
Fox Sports ' coverage of
XFL games.
[14] In 2022, Taft signed an extension at
Fox Sports but left
Skip and Shannon: Undisputed after going on maternity leave in February.
[15] Taft also got into a verbal dispute on air with
Skip Bayless after Bayless made critical comments about
Dallas Cowboys ' coach
Mike McCarthy based on his body weight and appearance.
[16]
Personal life
Taft is the daughter of
John Taft , a former professional
ice hockey
defenseman and member of the
United States men's national ice hockey team at the
1976 Winter Olympics .
[17] In 2015, Taft married
Matt Gilroy , also a former
NHL defenseman.
[17] On December 4, 2021, Taft revealed that she was pregnant with a due date the following March.
[18] Taft speaks French fluently.
[19]
References
^
Michael Kosta (September 7, 2017).
"Worst Birthday 103, Jenny Taft, September 5th" . Worst Birthday (Podcast). Retrieved February 4, 2019 .
^ McGuire, Mary (March 2012).
"Edina's Fox Sports North Girls" . Edina . Retrieved February 4, 2019 .
^
a
b Griggs, Halley Quillinan (September 23, 2014).
"Where Are They Now? Boston University's Jenny Taft" .
Inside Lacrosse . Retrieved February 4, 2019 .
^ Fee, Gayle; Vanni, Olivia (August 19, 2013).
"The Lowdown: Fox Sports 1, Jenny Taft, Regis Philbin and more…" .
Boston Herald . Retrieved February 4, 2019 .
^
a
b
c Maaglio, Tony; Maas, Jennifer (June 7, 2018).
"Joy Taylor Leaves FS1's 'Skip and Shannon' for 'The Herd'; Jenny Taft Named New 'Undisputed' Moderator" .
TheWrap . Retrieved February 4, 2019 .
^
a
b
"Sunday Q&A: FSN alum Jenny Taft is working World Cup" .
Star Tribune . June 6, 2015. Retrieved February 4, 2019 .
^
a
b Justin, Neal (August 29, 2013).
"Lynx reporter gets big promotion" .
Star Tribune . Retrieved February 4, 2019 .
^
a
b
"Jenny Taft to join FOX Sports Live's news update team" .
Fox Sports North .
Fox Sports . August 28, 2013. Retrieved February 4, 2019 .
^ Rand, Michael (September 1, 2021).
"Edina's Jenny Taft: From 'FSN Girl' to a big role at Fox Sports 1" .
Star Tribune . Retrieved September 29, 2021 .
^
a
b
c
d
"Jenny Taft | Fox Sports PressPass" . Fox Sports PressPass .
Fox Sports . Retrieved February 4, 2019 .
^ Pryor, Brooke (November 11, 2017).
"Q&A with Fox sideline reporter Jenny Taft" .
NewsOK . Retrieved February 4, 2019 .
^ McCarthy, Michael (June 7, 2018).
"FS1 is bringing in Jenny Taft to moderate Skip Bayless, Shannon Sharpe on 'Undisputed' " .
Sporting News . Retrieved February 4, 2019 .
^
a
b
c Koster, Kyle (August 31, 2018).
"Jenny Taft to Host Weekly College Football Show on FS1" .
The Big Lead . Retrieved February 4, 2019 .
^ BSM Staff (7 February 2020).
"Jenny Taft & Brock Huard Join Fox XFL Broadcasts" . barrettsportsmedia.com . Retrieved 9 March 2020 .
^ Ryan Glasspiegel (11 January 2022).
"Jenny Taft expected to leave 'Undisputed' with new Fox Sports deal" . nypost.com . Retrieved 28 June 2022 .
^ Cancian, Dan (August 12, 2021).
"Fox Sports Host Slams Skip Bayless for Criticizing Mike McCarthy's Physical Appearance" .
Newsweek . Retrieved October 20, 2022 . So, I don't think that's a fair shot. [...] And I'm allowed to have an opinion, Skip. I am allowed to say whatever I want to say on this show, as you do, too.
^
a
b Allen, Matt (November 11, 2017).
"Matt Gilroy, thriving in the KHL, now expected to become go-to player for U.S. Olympic team" .
USA Today . Retrieved February 4, 2019 .
^
"Fox Sports' Jenny Taft confirms she's pregnant with husband Matt" . December 5, 2021.
^ @JennyTaft (November 5, 2014).
"@Disch_InTheVOX I speak fluent French..." (
Tweet ) – via
Twitter .
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