John Feinstein, noted author and sports commentator, dies at 69
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John Feinstein, noted sports commentator and author, dies at 69
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USA TODAY

3:45 p.m. ET March 13, 2025 Updated: 4:38 p.m. ET March 13, 2025

_This article has been updated with John Feinstein's reported age of 69._

Noted sports commentator and author John Feinstein has died at age 69, .

Feinstein graduated from Duke University and was best known for his time at the Post. He graduated and joined the Post as a night police reporter in 1977.

He was inducted into the National Sports Media Association Hall of Fame in 2012.

During his career, he wrote more than 40 books.

Among the books was "A Season on the Brink," which detailed a year in the life of then-Indiana basketball coach Bob Knight and his team. The book was later adapted into an ESPN film with the same title and aired in 2002.

Feinstein died Thursday at his brother’s home in McLean, Virginia, but a cause of death was not immediately available.

Feinstein was married to Christine and had three children.



_Note: John Feinstein winner of the Curt Gowdy print media award, addresses guests at the Bunn-Gowdy Awards Dinner as part of the 2013 Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony._

_This article has been updated with new information._

Some of the other topics for his books included college basketball and the Army vs. Navy football rivalry in 1995.

### John Feinstein's career and appearances

Feinstein worked as a staff columnist at the Washington Post, the Sporting News and Golf Digest.

He also made appearances on various TV and radio shows, including the Golf Channel, the Jim Rome Show and the Tony Kornheiser Show.

In 2012, he worked for SiriusXM's Mad Dog Sports radio channel as a co-host alongside Bruce Murray on a show called "Beyond the Brink."

He had 23 books named as New York Times Best-Sellers, which includes his most recent book on the topic of Irish-born golfer and broadcaster David Feherty.

Some of the other topics for his books included college basketball and the Army vs. Navy football rivalry in 1995.

### John Feinstein's final column

Feinstein continued to work as a columnist for the Post and had a column published as recently as Thursday morning.

The column was about Michigan State men's basketball coach Tom Izzo and how he continues to win games and have fun during a time when many of his peers are beginning to step away from their respective roles.

Several of his most recent articles also focused on Ivy League football.

_This story has been updated with new information._

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