CLEVELAND — Jay Crawford is a familiar face that joined 3News in 2019.
Crawford previously anchored ESPN’s SportsCenter, hosted the Little League World Series and was a guest host on NFL Live.
“When I began my TV career it was always my goal to one day work in the Cleveland market,” Crawford said when he first joined wkyc studios. “After 15 years of living in the northeast and covering sports at the network level, I am absolutely thrilled to be coming home to work in and cover the community I love."
Crawford graduated from Bowling Green State University in 1987 with a Bachelor’s Degree in radio, TV and film. He began his career at WYMT-TV in Hazard, Kentucky as the Sports Director and moved to WTIC-TV in Hartford, Connecticut to be weekend Sports Anchor. He returned to his native Ohio to WBNS-TV in Columbus and helped to launch Wall to Wall Sports, a 30-minute sports show still on the air today. He moved on to become Sports Director at WFTS-TV in Tampa, Florida; winning numerous awards for best sportscast, best sports special and outstanding sports operation.
In 2003, ESPN came calling and Crawford launched his popular show Cold Pizza that became ESPN’s First Take in 2007. Within five years, Crawford was on to the SportsCenter division to host the midday program where he remained until 2017.
His professional achievements include winning four regional Emmy Awards, the Best Sportscaster Award from the Kentucky Associated Press and three Society of Professional Journalists’ Best Sports Program Awards. Crawford has been a Children’s Miracle Network host and has contributed time to the Special Olympics.
While he has always loved sports, witnessing Cleveland’s extraordinary momentum called him home, and he’s ready to experience and celebrate it with a new role.
In 2020, Crawford is joining forces with 3News' Chief Meteorologist Betsy Kling for a new 5 p.m. show known as What's New.
Crawford lives in Chagrin Falls with his wife, Tracy.
Contact Jay Crawford at jcrawford@wkyc.com and follow him on X.