Black people make up a significant amount of players in the NFL. In 2023, the greatest share of players by ethnic group in the National Football League were Black athletes, constituting just over 53 percent of players, according to Statistica. To help them shine on your screens, there’s a group of talented Black female football commentators working behind the scenes. These women have been breaking barriers for women in the football world. They successfully show up and show out, explaining the ins and outs of the sport.
Maria Taylor
Maria Taylor is a sports commentator who hosts NBC Sport’s “Football Nights In America” to elaborate on the NFL highlights. Since joining as lead host in 2022, Taylor made history as the first female full-time host on the program. According to NBC, FNIA continues its reign as sports’ most-watched weekly studio show for the 19th consecutive year. In addition, the host is the co-founder of Winning Edge Leadership Academy, a non profit organization that nurtures minority student athletes.
Josina Anderson
Josina Anderson is a seasoned sports reporter and a former CBS Sports reporter. Before landing at CBS Sports, Anderson was an ESPN reporter on shows including “SportsCenter” and “NFL Live.”
Taylor Rooks
At 32 years old, Taylor Rooks has made a big name for herself in the sports world. Rooks regularly appears as a sideline reporter on “Thursday Night Football.” Along with the program, the journalist also appears on “Bleacher Report” and “Turner Sports” to give her commentary. Rooks is revered in the football world for gaining in-depth, intimate interviews with some of the most successful athletes, including Patrick Mahomes and Saquon Barkley.
Pam Oliver
Pam Oliver is a seasoned sports journalist. Oliver has had a long career as an NFL sideline reporter. She’s the longest-tenured sideline reporter in the NFL. Now at Fox Sports, Oliver has worked at ESPN, TNT and 60 Minutes Sports. The sportscaster was actually a track & field athlete during college at Florida A&M University. In 1996, Oliver was inducted into her alma mater’s Sports Hall of Fame. Other notable achievements include moderating President Barack Obama’s Healthy Kids and Safe Sports Concussion Summit at the White House in 2016.
Kimberly Martin
Kimberly Martin is an NFL journalist, who has covered football for over a decade. Martin’s been featured on “Sunday NFL Countdown,” “Fantasy Football Now,” and “ NFL Live.” In addition, she’s the co-host on ESPN’s “First Take Her Take,” the network’s only all-female podcast. Before ESPN, Martin was at Yahoo Sports as a senior NFL writer and a columnist. In addition, the journalist is the first Black woman NFL beat writer at a national news organization.
Kristina Pink
Kristina Pink is a Fox Sports sideline reporter. Pink joined the network in 2012 and has since contributed to Fox Sport’s NFL pregame show, Fox NFL Sunday and Fox NFL Kickoff. She first forayed into sports journalism while in college at the University of Florida. There, Pink covered women’s basketball and softball teams. The reporter made her professional entrance in 2008 before landing at Fox Sports.