Brown, Gumbel, Wojnarowski, Hartman elected to NSMA Hall of Fame; McDonough, Dellenger earn national honors

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (Jan. 5, 2026) — Sportscaster James Brown of CBS and sportswriter Adrian Wojnarowski have been voted by their peers into the National Sports Media Association’s Hall of Fame, NSMA executive director Dave Goren announced. They’ll be joined by posthumous selections Greg Gumbel (CBS) and Sid Hartman (Minnesota Star Tribune). The four were elected by NSMA members during December’s final balloting.

ESPN play-by-play announcer Sean McDonough has been voted the 2025 National Sportscaster of the Year, while Yahoo Sports’ Ross Dellenger has been voted the 2025 National Sportswriter of the Year. It’s the first NSMA national award for each of them.

The NSMA will honor its award winners and Hall of Fame inductees during the organization’s 66th awards weekend and national convention, to be held June 28–29, 2026, at Grandover Resort & Spa in Greensboro, N.C.

Brown has served as host for CBS Sports’ “NFL Today” show since 2006. Before that, he held the same position on “FOX NFL Sunday” for 12 seasons, coming over from his original stint at CBS, where he covered the NBA, NFL, Major League Baseball, and college basketball. The three-time Emmy Award winner got his start in broadcasting at WUSA-TV in his hometown of Washington, D.C. Brown is a Harvard University graduate and was a three-time selection for the All-Ivy League basketball team. Among his many honors was the 2016 Pete Rozelle Award from the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Wojnarowski, often known as Woj, is a three-time NSMA National Sportswriter of the Year and one of a handful of single-sport reporters who turned being an “insider” into a cottage industry. After spending 15 years in the newspaper business, “Woj” migrated to Yahoo Sports in 2007, where his penchant for breaking NBA news coincided with the rise in social media use. After 11 years at Yahoo, Wojnarowski left for ESPN and ESPN.com. The added exposure made him the go-to source for NBA news. In September of 2024, after eight years at ESPN, he announced his retirement to become the general manager of the basketball program at his alma mater, St. Bonaventure University. Wojnarowski received the Curt Gowdy Insight Award from the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2025.

Like Brown, Gumbel had two stints at CBS Sports, the first of which — 1989-94 — included hosting the “NFL Today,” as well as anchoring two Olympic Winter Games. After spending four years at NBC Sports, Gumbel returned to CBS in 1998. There, he served as play-by-play announcer for NFL and college basketball games, and hosted the NCAA basketball tournament selection show. He joins Bryant Gumbel, inducted in 2018, as the only brothers in the NSMA Hall of Fame. The Loras College graduate died of cancer in December of 2024 at the age of 78.

Hartman went from selling newspapers on the street at age 9 to one of the most beloved sports media personalities in the Twin Cities. He spent more than 70 years writing for the Minneapolis Tribune, then Star Tribune. He also appeared on local radio and television sports shows for many years. He was still writing three columns a week after turning 100 years old. When he died in October 2020, the Star Tribune had counted more than 21,000 of his bylines.

McDonough has been one of the most versatile play-by-play announcers of the last four decades. He is currently the lead play-by-play announcer for the NHL on ESPN and ABC, and is one of the lead voices for ESPN/ABC college football and basketball. McDonough started at ESPN in 1989, left in 1996 for a three-year exclusive stint at CBS, then returned to ESPN in 1999. In total, McDonough worked for ten years at CBS. The Syracuse University graduate was also the play-by-play voice of his hometown Boston Red Sox from 1988–2004. His father, the late Will McDonough, was a Boston Globe sports columnist who was inducted into the NSMA (then NSSA) Hall of Fame in 2003.

Dellenger serves as the senior college football reporter for Yahoo Sports, where he has worked since 2023. He also contributes to On3. The Mississippi State University graduate began his career as a newspaper beat writer covering SEC programs before moving to Sports Illustrated in 2018. A winner of several awards from the Associated Press Sports Editors and Football Writers Association of America, the Morgan City, La. native resides in Washington, D.C.

Among the state winners, David Teel of the Norfolk, Va., Virginian-Pilot was voted Virginia’s Sportswriter of the Year for the 16th time. Rick Cleveland won his 15^th Mississippi Sportswriter of the Year award. In Oregon, John Canzano won his seventh Sportswriter of the Year award. He has also won two Oregon Sportscaster of the Year awards.

About the National Sports Media Association

The National Sports Media Association Inc. is a nonprofit organization that seeks to develop educational opportunities for those who are interested in pursuing a career in sports media through networking, interning, mentoring, and scholarship programs.

The NSMA also honors, preserves, and celebrates the diverse legacy of sports media in the United States.

Founded in 1959 as the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association in Salisbury, N.C., the NSSA added its Hall of Fame in 1962, with Grantland Rice as its first member. The organization rebranded to the National Sports Media Association in 2016 and moved to Winston-Salem, N.C. one year later.

For sponsorship and membership information, contact Dave Goren at dgoren@nationalsportsmedia.org.

See the complete list of award winners here (times won in parentheses):

HALL OF FAME

SPORTSCASTERS

James Brown, CBS, FOX, et.al.

Greg Gumbel, CBS, ESPN, et. al. (deceased)

SPORTSWRITERS

Adrian Wojnarowski, ESPN.com, Yahoo.com, et al.

Sid Hartman, Minneapolis Star Tribune

NATIONAL SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Sean McDonough, ESPN/ABC (1)

NATIONAL SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Ross Dellenger, Yahoo Sports (1)

ALABAMA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Cole Cubelic, WJOX Radio, Birmingham (1)

ALABAMA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Thomas Ashworth, AL.com, Huntsville (1)

ARIZONA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Jon Bloom, Suns Radio Network, Phoenix (1)

ARIZONA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Doug Haller, The Athletic, Phoenix (6)

ARKANSAS SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Phil Elson, Razorback Network/Learfield, Fayetteville (4)

ARKANSAS SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Christina Long, Hawgs Illustrated, Fayetteville (1)

CALIFORNIA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Greg Papa, KNBR Radio, San Francisco (4)

CALIFORNIA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Ann Killion, San Francisco Chronicle, San Francisco (4)

COLORADO SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Dave Logan, Broncos/KOA Radio, Denver (5)

COLORADO SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Kyle Newman, Denver Post, Denver (1)

CONNECTICUT SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Gabby Lucivero, WVIT-TV, Hartford (1)

CONNECTICUT SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Dom Amore, Hartford Courant (8)

DELAWARE SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Matt Janus, Blue Rocks Radio, Wilmington (4)

DELAWARE SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Andy Walter, The Delaware State News, Dover (5)

D.C. SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR (TIE)

Bob Carpenter, Nationals TV, Washington (2)

John Walton, Capitals Radio Network, Washington (2)

D.C. SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Nicki Jhabvala, The Athletic (1)

FLORIDA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Jamie Seh, WKMG-TV, Orlando (1)

FLORIDA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR (TIE)

Rick Stroud, Tampa Bay Times, St. Petersburg (2)

Dave Hyde, South Florida Sun Sentinel, Ft. Lauderdale (5)

GEORGIA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR (TIE)

Sam Crenshaw, CBS Atlanta, Atlanta (1)

Steve Holman, Atlanta Hawks Radio, Atlanta (6)

GEORGIA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Ken Sugiura, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Atlanta (2)

HAWAII SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Kanoa Leahey, Spectrum Sports, Honolulu (4)

HAWAII SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Stephen Tsai, Star-Advertiser, Honolulu (9)

IDAHO SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Abe Jackson, Boise State Radio Net/Learfield, Boise (1)

IDAHO SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, Boise (1)

ILLINOIS SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Brian Barnhart, Illini Radio Net/Learfield, Champaign (2)

ILLINOIS SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Kevin Fishbain, The Athletic, Chicago (2)

INDIANA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR (TIE)

Rob Blackman, Purdue Sports Network/Learfield, W. Lafayette (1)

Chris Denari, Pacers TV Network, Indianapolis (2)

INDIANA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

James Boyd, The Athletic, Indianapolis (1)

IOWA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR (TIE)

Shannon Ehrhardt, KCCI-TV, Des Moines (1)

Keith Murphy, WHO-TV, Des Moines (6)

IOWA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Tommy Birch, Des Moines Register, Des Moines

KANSAS SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Mike Kennedy, Wichita State Radio Net/Playfly, Wichita (2)

KANSAS SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Kellis Robinett, Wichita Eagle, Wichita (1)

KENTUCKY SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Greg Stotelmyer, EKU Radio Network, Richmond (2)

KENTUCKY SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Jon Hale, Herald Leader, Lexington (2)

LOUISIANA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Fletcher Mackel, WDSU-TV, New Orleans (1)

LOUISIANA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Jeff Duncan, NOLA Advocate, New Orleans (3)

MAINE SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Jack Webb, WFVX-TV/WVII-TV, Bangor (1)

MAINE SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Drew Bonifant, Portland Press Herald, Portland (1)

MARYLAND SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Melanie Newman, Orioles/MASN (1)

MARYLAND SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Jacob Meyer, Baltimore Sun, Baltimore (1)

MASSACHUSETTS SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR (TIE)

Tom Caron, Red Sox/NESN, Boston (1)

Dave O'Brien, Red Sox/NESN, Boston (1)

MASSACHUSETTS SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Kevin Dupont, Boston Globe (7)

MICHIGAN SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Brad Galli, WXYZ-TV, Detroit (3)

MICHIGAN SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

John Niyo, Detroit News, Detroit (1)

MINNESOTA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Mike Grimm, Gopher Sports Properties/Learfield (5)

MINNESOTA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Phil Miller, Minnesota Star Tribune, Minneapolis (1)

MISSISSIPPI SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Bart Gregory, Mississippi State Radio Network/Learfield, SEC+, Starkville (3)

MISSISSIPPI SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Rick Cleveland, Mississippi Today, Jackson (15)

MISSOURI SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR (TIE)

Art Hains, Missouri State Radio, Springfield (1)

Tamar Sher, KMOV-TV, St. Louis (1)

MISSOURI SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, Kansas City (1)

MONTANA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Riley Corcoran, Grizzly Sports Properties/Learfield (4)

MONTANA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Braden Shaw, Bozeman Daily Chronicle, Bozeman (1)

NEBRASKA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

John Baylor, Husker Radio Net/Playfly, Lincoln (1)

NEBRASKA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Robin Washut, HuskerOnline, Lincoln (1)

NEVADA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Q Myers, Raider Nation Radio 920, Las Vegas (1)

NEVADA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Ed Graney, Las Vegas-Review Journal, Las Vegas (9)

NEW HAMPSHIRE SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Mike Murphy, UNH Wildcat Radio Net/Learfield, Durham (10)

NEW HAMPSHIRE SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Bruce Wood, Big Green Alert, Hanover (1)

NEW JERSEY SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Matt Loughlin, Devils Radio Network, Newark (4)

NEW JERSEY SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Keith Sargeant, NJ Advance Media, Newark (2)

NEW MEXICO SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Adam Diehl, KQTM-FM, Rio Rancho (1)

NEW MEXICO SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

James Yodice, Albuquerque Journal, Albuquerque (1)

NEW YORK SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR (TIE)

Chris Carrino, Nets Radio Network, Brooklyn (1)

Matt Park, Syracuse University Radio Network/Learfield, Syracuse (1)

NEW YORK SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR (TIE)

Rich Cimini, ESPN NY, New York (2)

Steve Serby, New York Post, New York (1)

NORTH CAROLINA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Mike Maniscalco, Hurricanes/FanDuel Sports Network, Raleigh (1)

NORTH CAROLINA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Aaron Beard, Associated Press, Raleigh (1)

NORTH DAKOTA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Sam Neidermann, ND State Radio Net/Learfield, Fargo (1)

NORTH DAKOTA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Mojo Hill, Devils Lake Journal, Devils Lake (1)

OHIO SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Jeff Brantley, Reds/FanDuel Sports Network, Cincinnati (1)

OHIO SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Rob Oller, Columbus Dispatch, Columbus (1)

OKLAHOMA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Mark Rodgers, WWLS Radio, OKC (1)

OKLAHOMA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Jenni Carlson, The Oklahoman, Oklahoma City (2)

OREGON SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Travis Demers, Trail Blazers Radio Network, Portland (1)

OREGON SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

John Canzano, JohnCanzano.com, Portland (7*)

PENNSYLVANIA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

John Clark, NBCSports Philadelphia (3)

PENNSYLVANIA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Matt Gelb, The Athletic, Philadelphia (3)

RHODE ISLAND SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Nick Coit, WEEI/ESPN Plus, Providence (5)

RHODE ISLAND SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Brendan McGair, Pawtucket Times/Woonsocket Call, Pawtucket/Woonsocket (6)

SOUTH CAROLINA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Reggie Anderson, WLTX, Columbia (1)

SOUTH CAROLINA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Larry Williams, Tiger Illustrated, Clemson (2)

SOUTH DAKOTA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Jay Elsen, Midco Sports, Sioux Falls (1)

SOUTH DAKOTA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

James Cimburek, Press & Dakotan, Yankton (2)

TENNESSEE SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Pete Weber, Predators Radio Network, Nashville (10)

TENNESSEE SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Gentry Estes, The Tennessean, Nashville (1)

TEXAS SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Andrew Monaco, Texas A&M Radio Net/Learfield, College Station (1)

TEXAS SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Cedric Golden, Austin American-Statesman, Austin (1)

UTAH SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Sam Farnsworth, KSL-TV, Salt Lake City (1)

UTAH SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Jay Drew, Deseret News, Salt Lake City (4)

VERMONT SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Brian McLaughlin, UVM/Vermont Green/Lake Monsters, Burlington (1)

VERMONT SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Michael Beniash, Caledonian Record, St. Johnsbury (3)

VIRGINIA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Bill Roth, VT Radio Net/Playfly, Blacksburg (13)

VIRGINIA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

David Teel, Virginian-Pilot, Norfolk (16)

WASHINGTON SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Aaron Goldsmith, Mariners TV Network, Seattle (1)

WASHINGTON SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Ryan Divish, Seattle Times, Seattle (1)

WEST VIRGINIA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Travis Jones, WV Metronews, Bridgeport (1)

WEST VIRGINIA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Greg Carey, WV Metronews, Morgantown (1)

WISCONSIN SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Tim Van Vooren, WITI-TV, Milwaukee (4)

WISCONSIN SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Todd Rosiak, Journal Sentinel, Milwaukee (2)

WYOMING SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Keith Kelly, KFBC Radio & Cowboy Radio Net/Learfield, Cheyenne/Laramie (5)

WYOMING SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Cody Tucker, 7220sports.com, Cheyenne-Laramie (2)

* won 2 Oregon Sportscaster of Year awards

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