Julie Anne Donaldson (born February 10, 1978) is an American sportscaster who is a host of the radio broadcast team for the Washington Commanders of the National Football League (NFL). She was the winner of the 2001 Miss Florida USA beauty pageant before becoming an anchor and reporter for several television networks. In 2020, Donaldson became the first full-time on-air female member of an NFL broadcasting team.
Julie Donaldson | |
|---|---|
 Donaldson in 2023 | |
| Born | February 10, 1978 Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. |
| Alma mater | University of Florida |
| Occupations |
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| Employer | Washington Commanders |
| Term | 2020–present |
Career
editDonaldson was born in Jacksonville, Florida on February 10, 1978. She won the Miss Florida USA title at the state pageant held in Orlando, Florida in July 2000.[1] She had previously placed first runner-up to Kristin Ludecke in the previous year's pageant.[2] Donaldson competed in the Miss USA 2001 pageant but did not place.[3]
In 2006, Donaldson joined SportsNet New York at the network's inception. She made numerous reports from various sporting events covered by SNY and hosted Mets Weekly, a weekly program recapping New York Mets games, trades, injuries, and other features. She spent two years working for the network from 2006-2007. Donaldson worked as a TV host for Miami Heat's Heat TV.[4] Prior to that, Donaldson co-hosted Sports Rap on Fox Sports Net Florida. Donaldson also co-hosted Softball 360 and the PBS series Healthy Body Healthy Mind.
In February 2008, Donaldson was hired to cover Boston-based sports for NBC affiliate WHDH-TV. She left the job in December 2008, seeking a start in a new market.[5] In June 2010, Donaldson was employed as a freelance reporter for Comcast SportsNet's mid-atlantic network, covering sports stories in the Washington, D.C. area.[5] Donaldson was promoted to anchor in September 2010.[6] During her decade-long tenure as a reporter, anchor, and host for NBC Sports Washington, Donaldson covered nearly every team, athlete and major sports story in the region, as well as across national and international sporting events. She also served as host of several NFL shows and contributed regularly to their other football programs and coverage. In addition to her work with NBC Sports, Donaldson also held on-air roles for NBC Olympic broadcasts. She held four Olympic assignments as a news host during the Olympic Games in the 2010s.[7]
In July 2020, Donaldson was hired as the Washington Commanders' senior vice president of media and content,[8] which included working as a host for the radio broadcast crew alongside play by play announcer Bram Weinstein and analyst London Fletcher.[9][10] She was the first full-time female member of an NFL broadcast team and was named as one of the most powerful and influential women in sports by Sports Illustrated later that year.[11] Donaldson remained on the radio crew despite her contract as the team's senior vice president of media and content not being renewed in 2023.[12]
References
edit- ^ "Ponte Vedra Beach woman crowned Miss Florida USA". PolkOnline.com. 2000-07-16. Archived from the original on May 9, 2002. Retrieved 2006-11-24.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ "Kristin Ludecke of Eustis Crowned Miss Florida USA 2000". Business Wire. 1999-07-10. Retrieved 2006-11-24.[dead link]
- ^ "Thoughts of Miss USA 2001". tapmum. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
- ^ SportsNet New York's Sports News Team profiles Archived 2006-12-13 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2006-11-24.
- ^ a b Jessica Heslam (2010-07-08). "Julie Donaldson has Comcast sports gig". Boston Herald. Retrieved 2010-07-08.
- ^ Dave Hughes (October 2010). "CSN Coverage is growing". Press Box. Archived from the original on 2012-03-04. Retrieved 2010-11-08.
- ^ "Julie Donaldson joins NBC's Olympic Coverage". Retrieved 31 January 2018.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "How Julie Donaldson became Commanders senior VP of media and content". Yahoo Finance. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
- ^ "Julie Donaldson to Become First Regular Female Member of an NFL Radio Broadcast". NBC 4 Washington. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
- ^ Harrison, David. "DeAngelo Hall Out, New Washington Legend In For Commanders Radio Booth". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
- ^ SI Staff (6 October 2020). "The Unrelenting". SI.com. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
- ^ Lambert, Ivan (27 July 2023). "Commanders do not renew Julie Donaldson's contract". Commanders Wire. USA Today. Retrieved 5 August 2023.