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Christopher James Berman

Chris Berman is an American sportscaster who has worked at ESPN since a month after the network’s 1979 launch. Nicknamed “Boomer,” he built his reputation hosting NFL Primetime and Sunday NFL Countdown, coining hundreds of player nicknames along the way. Berman now hosts NFL Primetime on ESPN+ alongside Booger McFarland and remains under contract with the network through the 2029 season.

Overview

Christopher James Berman 's Profile

Christopher Berman grew up in Irvington, New York, and attended the Hackley School before enrolling at Brown University. He graduated in 1977 with a degree in history and worked as sports director of the campus radio station. Berman broke into television at WVIT in Hartford, Connecticut, as a weekend sports anchor. ESPN hired him in October 1979, just a month after the network’s launch.

For over three decades, Berman anchored ESPN’s NFL studio coverage, hosting Sunday NFL Countdown from 1985 to 2016. He and Tom Jackson co-hosted the original NFL Primetime from 1987 to 2005, building it into cable’s highest-rated studio show. Berman also called play-by-play for MLB broadcasts and hosted golf and hockey coverage for the network. He stepped back from daily NFL hosting duties in 2017 to focus on a reduced, public-facing role.

Today Berman hosts NFL Primetime, the highlight show he relaunched on ESPN+ in 2019 alongside Booger McFarland. He also appears on ESPN’s coverage surrounding the NFL Draft and marquee season broadcasts. Berman has signed contract extensions to remain with the network through the 2029 NFL season.

Quick Facts

  • Full Name: Christopher James Berman
  • Gender: Male
  • Date of Birth: 1955-05-10
  • Nationality: American
  • Ethnicity: White
  • Sexual Orientation: Straight
  • Marital Status: Married
  • Career Start: 1979
  • Current Network:
  • Years Active
  • Estimated Salary: $8 million

4
Shows Hosted

[tvhost_current_show_count]
Shows Currently Hosting 
Post type: tv_hosts
Host ID: 504739
Shows field: Array
(
    [0] => 502666
    [1] => 501354
    [2] => 502340
    [3] => 504588
)

20
Years Active

50
Awards Won

TV Shows​

A list of television shows hosted by this host, including current programs and previous presenting roles.

Baseball Tonight
Baseball Tonight
Sunday NFL Countdown
Sunday NFL Countdown
ESPN's SportsCentre
SportsCenter
Monday Night Countdown
Monday Night Countdown

Networks

A list of Networks that this host has worked for.

Personal Life

Family, relationships and background

  • Marriage Katherine "Kathy" Alexinski Berman from 1983 to 2017 (She died in a car accident in 2017)
  • Meredith Berman , a biological child with Katherine Berman , born in 1986
  • Douglas "Doug" Berman, a biological child with Katherine Berman , born in 1987

Education

Educational background and qualifications

  • Hackley School (Tarrytown, NY)
  • BA in History from Brown University (1977)

Net Worth & Income

Income sources, net worth, and properties.

  • Primary income from a 45+ year ESPN on-air contract.
  • Earnings from film and TV show appearances.
  • Additional income from public speaking engagements.

Awards

Awards & recognition

  • National Sports Media Association — National Sportscaster of the Year (1989, 1990, 1993, 1994, 1996 and 2001)
  • Reds Bagnell Award — Maxwell Football Club (2001)
  • Pat Summerall Award — Legends for Charity (2009)
  • Pete Rozelle Radio-Television Award — Pro Football Hall of Fame (2010)
  • Al Neuharth Award for Excellence in Media — Newseum Institute (2016)
  • Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame (2017)
  • Lamar Hunt Award for Professional Football — Pro Football Hall of Fame (2024)