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Jeannine Edwards

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Jeannine Edwards
Born (1964-03-12) March 12, 1964 (age 61)
Tenafly, New Jersey
Years active1993–2017
Spouse
​
(m. 2013)​
Sports commentary career
Genre(s)Color analyst, Sideline reporter
Sport(s)College football, College basketball, Horse racing

Jeannine Edwards (born March 12, 1964) is a former ESPN/ABC sportscaster focusing on college football, college basketball and horse racing.

Early career

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Edwards began a career with racehorses that spanned 10 years as an exercise rider, apprentice jockey, and trainer in New York and New Jersey.[1][2]

After moving to Maryland in 1993, Edwards began TV work as an in-house host at the Pimlico and Laurel Park race courses.[3]

ESPN and ABC

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In 1995 Edwards was selected as an analyst for a new ESPN studio show:  The "National Best 7". The show morphed into "2Day at the Races" and ran for five years. [4]

During that time, Edwards continued working part-time for the Maryland tracks.  Shortly thereafter she began reporting full-time for ESPN's remote racing telecasts as well as branching out into sideline reporting for the network's College Football and Basketball coverage.  Edwards also became a general assignment reporter on ESPN's SportsCenter in 2009.

With her background in horse racing, Edwards served as the senior reporter for all of ESPN and ABC's live horse racing series, including the Breeders' Cup, Dubai World Cup and extensive Triple Crown coverage.

Edwards was a familiar face on SportsCenter, the flagship news and highlights show on ESPN covering everything from College Football and the NFL to College Basketball and MLB.  Her prowess for covering major stories and breaking news as well as her knack for bringing viewers behind the scenes with her creative live shots made her a sought-after regular on the network’s highest-rated shows.[5]

Edwards also worked the football sidelines for ABC and ESPN as part of the networks’ popular and highly-rated Saturday College Football programming. She was ESPN's Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) reporter for Men's College Basketball as well as a primary voice covering the NCAA Tournament and Final Four. Additionally, Edwards subbed as a fill-in host for studio shows such as First Take and NFL Live.[6]

Awards and notable appearances

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Edwards was recognized for her outstanding reporting for ESPN, ABC News and Good Morning America on the injury and subsequent death of Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro.[7][8] Edwards was asked to write the forward to the book "Greatness and Goodness: Barbaro And His Legacy". [9]

Edwards and the ESPN horse racing team won three consecutive Eclipse® Awards (2009, 2010, and 2011) for Outstanding Live Telecasts, as well as two Emmy® nominations.[10]

The National Thoroughbred Racing Association selected Jeannine as the first female to host the Eclipse Awards ceremony; she hosted for a record 7 straight years.[11][12][13]

In June 2012, Edwards was identified by The Los Angeles Daily News as one of "The 40 Women Who Raised the Bar in Sports Media". [14]

In 2018, Edwards received the Preakness Special Award of Merit at the Alibi Breakfast at Pimlico Race Course. The Special Award of Merit is given to those who have made a positive impact on the racing industry. Previous recipients have been Jim McKay, D. Wayne Lukas, Dr. Dean Richardson and Edgar Prado, Team American Pharoah, Jerry Bailey and King Leatherbury.[15]

Post retirement

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Edwards stepped away from television at the end of December 2017 after a 22-year career at ESPN.  Edwards was consistently rated among the most respected female sportscasters in the business.[16][17][18][19]

Since 2022 Edwards has been serving as a VIP ambassador and handicapper for the Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships.

Personal life

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Native of Tenafly, NJ; graduated from Immaculate Heart Academy in Washington Township NJ in 1982.

In 2013 Edwards made national news when she married then-Oklahoma State Defensive Coordinator Glenn Spencer.  The two had met after Edwards did a sideline story about the death Spencer's first wife. [20][21][22][23]

References

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  1. ^ "Q&A: Jeannine Edwards". www.drf.com. Retrieved 2025-04-17.
  2. ^ Hackbarth, Chelsea (2018-01-04). "Breeders' Cup Presents Connections: Edwards Looks Back On Career Of Asking Right Questions". Paulick Report | Latest news and commentary from the horse racing and equine world. Retrieved 2025-04-17.
  3. ^ Zurawik, David (2012-05-17). "Jeannine Edwards on covering the Preakness for ESPN". Baltimore Sun. Retrieved 2025-04-17.
  4. ^ Bornstein, Ben (2017-12-26). "ESPN reporter of more than 20 years announces departure from the company". FanBuzz. Retrieved 2025-04-17.
  5. ^ Quinn, Dan (2015-04-03). "Edwards tackles myriad tasks in new role as bureau reporter". ESPN Front Row. Retrieved 2025-04-17.
  6. ^ JeannineEdwardsSpencer (2021-06-14). Jeannine Edwards Demo Reel.mov. Retrieved 2025-04-17 – via Vimeo.
  7. ^ ESPN.com news services (May 20, 2006). "Barbaro injured early; Bernardini wins Preakness". Paulick Report | Latest news and commentary from the horse racing and equine world. Retrieved 2025-04-17.
  8. ^ "Jeannine Edwards On The 141st Preakness, Nyquist's Chances & Barbaro - CBS Baltimore". www.cbsnews.com. 2016-05-20. Retrieved 2025-04-17.
  9. ^ Amazon.com. ISBN 0983213909.
  10. ^ BloodHorse Staff (December 29, 2011). "Third Straight Eclipse Award for ESP". www.bloodhorse.com. Retrieved 2025-04-17.
  11. ^ BloodHorse Staff (December 19, 2011). "Broadcaster Edwards to Host Eclipse Awards". www.bloodhorse.com. Retrieved 2025-04-17.
  12. ^ BloodHorse Staff (January 2, 2019). "Edwards Returns to Host Eclipse Awards a Seventh Time". www.bloodhorse.com. Retrieved 2025-04-17.
  13. ^ America's Best Racing (2014-05-14). In The Spotlight: Jeannine Edwards. Retrieved 2025-04-17 – via YouTube.
  14. ^ "TITLE IX, 40 YEARS LATER: Broadcasters lend voices to legacy". Daily News. 2012-06-22. Retrieved 2025-04-17.
  15. ^ "JEANNINE EDWARDS TO RECEIVE PREAKNESS SPECIAL AWARD OF MERIT - Preakness Stakes". 2018-05-07. Retrieved 2025-04-17.
  16. ^ "Jeannine Edwards to Receive Preakness Special Award of Merit | Pimlico". www.pimlico.com. Retrieved 2025-04-17.
  17. ^ "Longtime ESPN Reporter Jeannine Edwards Retiring After This Week's Cotton Bowl". Sports Business Journal. 2025-04-17. Retrieved 2025-04-17.
  18. ^ Hall, Andy (2017-12-26). "Cotton Bowl marks end of Jeannine Edwards' remarkable career". ESPN Front Row. Retrieved 2025-04-17.
  19. ^ "ESPN college football sideline reporter Jeannine Edwards announces retirement". NBC Sports. 2017-12-26. Retrieved 2025-04-17.
  20. ^ Rapp, Timothy. "Jeannine Edwards Engaged to Oklahoma State D-Coordinator Glenn Spencer". bleacherreport.com. Retrieved 2025-04-17.
  21. ^ Schroeder, George. "Out of grief, coach and ESPN reporter find love". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2025-04-17.
  22. ^ "Glenn Spencer, Jeannine Edwards have an abnormal, long-distance relationship that works". The Oklahoman. Retrieved 2025-04-17.
  23. ^ "Oklahoma State's Spencer and ESPN's Edwards: A love story". CBSSports.com. 2013-05-15. Retrieved 2025-04-17.
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