As Sal Paolantonio approaches his 30-year anniversary at ESPN, it appears that the longtime NFL reporter is signing up for at least two more years.
According to Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio, Paolantonio has signed a new two-year contract extension with the Worldwide Leader. Per Florio, the extension carries through through May 2027, at which point the Stewart Manor, New York, native will be 71 years old.
Paolantonio has been with ESPN since August 1, 1995. For the last three decades, he’s been a mainstay of the network’s NFL coverage, serving as a national correspondent in addition to roles that have included radio game analyst, sideline reporter and hosting NFL Matchup.
While Paolantonio covers the league at-large, he’s most associated with his coverage of the Philadelphia Eagles (as well as his role in the famous Bart Scott “CAN’T WAIT!” interview). Prior to joining ESPN, he covered the Eagles as a beat reporter for the Philadelphia Inquirer, where he initially worked as a political reporter beginning in 1985.
Over the course of his 40-year career in journalism, Paolantonio has earned several accolades, including being inducted into the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame last November. In 2017, he was presented with the New York Daily News‘ Jack Newfield Courage in Journalism Award.
Considering his ties to the City of Brotherly Love, SalPao shouldn’t be hard to find this fall. With the Eagles’ defense of their Super Bowl title being one of the NFL’s primary storylines entering the 2025 season, ESPN’s longtime national NFL correspondent figures to find himself front and center.
About Ben Axelrod
Ben Axelrod is a veteran of the sports media landscape, having most recently worked for NBC's Cleveland affiliate, WKYC. Prior to his time in Cleveland, he covered Ohio State football and the Big Ten for outlets including Cox Media Group, Bleacher Report, Scout and Rivals.