Sal Paolantonio

Sal Paolantonio has been a national correspondent for ESPN since 1995, covering the NFL for "SportsCenter", "Sunday NFL Countdown", and ESPN.com. He is the host of "State Farm NFL Matchup" on Sunday mornings and also hosts the "EA Sports Match Up Show" with Ron Jaworski and Merrill Hoge. In addition to these roles, he is a regular panelist on "The Sports Reporters" and Comcast Sportsnet's "Daily News Live". Over the years, his contributions to sports journalism have earned him several Sports Emmys.

Prior to his tenure at ESPN, from 1985 to 1995, Paolantonio was a national political correspondent and sportswriter at The Philadelphia Inquirer. His investigative reporting in New Jersey led to significant political changes, including the removal of the first State Superior Court Justice in New Jersey by the State Legislature for cause, a story for which he was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize. Paolantonio also possesses a strong academic presence as a Professor in the English Department at St. Joseph's University, where he teaches courses in political and sports journalism.

Paolantonio is the author of notable books, including "The Paolantonio Report: The Most Overrated and Underrated Players, Coaches, Teams and Moments in NFL History" and "Frank Rizzo: The Last Big Man in Big City America", the latter being the all-time No. 1 bestseller in Philadelphia. His military service concluded in 1983 when he retired from the United States Navy as a full lieutenant, after serving in the South Pacific. In recognition of his service, he was awarded the United Nations Meritorious Service Medal in 1981 for supervising the rescue of Vietnamese refugees in the South China Sea. He resides in Moorestown, NJ, with his wife and three daughters.