Sunday, August 9, 2026

Mina Kimes: From NFL to Spelling Bee Host

Mina Kimes is an Emmy nominated NFL analyst, a Celebrity Jeopardy champion, and now the host of the Scripps National Spelling Bee airing on Ion on May 27th and 28th. It is one of the more unexpected and genuinely delightful career pivots in sports media right now, and the story of how it came together runs directly through her time on Celebrity Jeopardy.

She also just received a Sports Emmy nomination for her analyst work at ESPN, NFL Live is up for one too, and ESPN is now absorbing NFL Network into its portfolio ahead of hosting the Super Bowl next year. What does that mean for her role, for the talent she already knows over there, and what does a sports media super team actually look like in practice?

Then there is Pablo Torre’s Pulitzer Prize, the Clippers ownership situation that Steve Ballmer keeps downplaying, and the Seattle Seahawks going up for sale. As one of the most prominent Seahawks fans in sports media, Mina has a very clear and very specific answer for what kind of owner she actually wants for that franchise.

Up Next

Rizzo on Netflix’s Rise in Live Sports

Anthony Rizzo on Netflix sports, MLB labor talks, and the Yankees Polymarket…
August 6, 2026

Larry Berg on Taking Over MLS

Larry Berg on becoming MLS commissioner, private equity, and the World Cup’s…
August 4, 2026
Sponsored

Saints Great Turns to Ownership

Marques Colston discusses his Champions Fund launch and finding success after football.
July 28, 2026